With the second transfer, I spent $330 to purchase two cows that have been producing milk and thus saved me from buying milk daily. The excess milk I sell to my neighbors and use the money to buy food and other household stuff for daily use. Five out of my nine children who are in school had fees arrears of $60 and I had to clear it for them to remain in school. Due to the harsh drought experienced in the country, food was a major problem. Sometimes we had to sleep on empty stomachs. I used $40 of the remaining cash to buy new clothes for my children and $100 in buying food for my family which included 1 sack of maize, rice, corn flour, and salad oil.

I am grateful for the work well done by GiveDirectly in our village. Many were suffering a lot before the transfers came in, but at the moment everything has completely changed in every household. Those who had no hope of ever living in good houses are now enjoying good living conditions, and even their farming activities have improved a great deal. Everyone was treated fairly - a reason that no one complains to date, but thankful for the generous support.

Both transfers have been a great transformation in my household. I had planned a lot that I needed to do and I am glad that I finally accomplished it before exhausting both transfers. Even though paying school fees for my five children is a pressing and recurring bill, I have faith that the two cows I bought will multiply and I can sell them later on to pay school fees.

I spent most of my transfer which was KES 30000 on building a house for my daughters because they are all grown-ups and it is against our community's culture and customs for them to share the same roof at that age with their parents especially their father. Therefore, I made their house a top priority when I got the money. I also spent KES 11640 on buying foodstuffs for my family because I had gotten the money and food was something that we had suffered to get and never had it on regular basis due to the unavailability of cassava which selling them was my business and sole source of income. With cassava unavailable, that meant no income for me and consequently no food for my family. Therefore, I made sure I buy food in a substantial bulk which I chose over keeping the money and buying a little food every other day.

The biggest difference in my daily life is the fact that I am ever happy since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly. We have food, my mind is at peace and mind at ease. All thanks to GiveDirectly.

It was around 8pm when I was preparing supper for my family when I got the SMS confirming that I have received the money from GiveDirectly. I felt great happiness when I got the money because we had suffered so much especially in getting food regularly since my cassava selling business had gone down with the unavailability of cassavas. Therefore, this money was a very huge relief as I knew that we will now get food.