My life is different than how it would have been because I now have a pair of oxen that I am currently keeping in my compound. I opted to buy them because they will enable me to improve my farming activities and even plant my own farm in time unlike before whereby I was using my own hands to conduct the tiresome exercise. I am now a happy farmer because the bulls have enabled me to prepare my farm in time which ensures that I will reap maximum yield and therefore have plenty of food for a longer period. Also with a solar panel that I purchased, it helps my children at night in their studies. Initially, I was using candles which were expensive and sometimes I used to stay in the dark since I could not afford to buy them.

In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well by ensuring that they visited every needy household in my village. There was no discrimination for one to be enrolled, and it was voluntary. Also what excited me a lot is that GiveDirectly has very polite and approachable staff, whenever I needed clarification they were always there to respond. Therefore according to me, I do not see any part that GiveDirectly failed us.

I spent part of my second transfer on buying some building materials such as timber, building poles and iron sheets KES 920 each piece. This was purposely for the constructing of a kitchen since I used to cook in my house which had insufficient and the smoke could affect us. Also, I bought an ox plough at KES 10000 for my pair of oxen that I own. To add to this, I gave my spouse KES 5000 to expand his business. In addition, I bought a solar panel that is now providing us light and night and also charging our phones. Also with the remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family.

7 am when I was preparing breakfast for my family when my mobile phone started ringing continuously. I asked one of my childe to confirm who it could be. On checking the content, he realized that it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. On receiving such great news I felt so happy for I knew I would fulfill all my heart desires.

The biggest difference in my daily life is that I now own a pair of oxen. I have been longing to own them but this was not achievable becasue they were too expensive. I settle in purchasing them because I knew that the pair can take less time in ploughing an acre and also I will be preparing my farm in time unlike before. For all these years I have been getting very poor and low yields simply because I was using my own hands in conducting the exercise. I am currently assured of getting plenty of harvests and also hire the pair to my neighbors and generate an income.

I spent part of my first transfer in buying a pair of oxen at a total of KES 30000. This has been my long time dream but I could not afford it due to the poverty life that I had. I only depend on temporary casuqal jobs which could only cater for foodstuffs. Also, I bought some household items such as utensils, chairs, decent clothes, and many more. With the remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family.