Getting the money meant good life compared to the one I used to be. At around 4 pm when I was at my biological parents where I was being nursed over some illness, I received a message on my phone. Because I do not know how to read I did not know that I had received some money. Towards 5 PM, my daughter-in-law came to confirm where I had received my share or not since she had received hers. I handed the phone to her to check. I felt so happy after the confirmation that I had received the first transfer from GiveDirectly.

Due to old age, there was nothing I could do to earn an income for a living. I entirely depended on my unemployed sons so it was not a guarantee that once they leave in the morning for their hustle they would bring something to the table. The main difference in my life that is a result of the transfer is the availability of food at my home. I get food on daily basis not as before when I even slept hungry someday because my children could not have secured any kind of a job in those days. I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for the assistance they gave me.

Since I do not know how to read, my old age also could not enable me to keep an account of every coin that I spend. What I can try to remember is what I did with the transfer. When I withdrew the money, I first bought a standard modern bed since I had been using the traditional one which was not comfortable. I also ordered a mat which I will be using during the day when resting under a shade. Thereafter, I bought two goats so that I could start keeping livestock at home in remembrance of GiveDirectly. Apart from using the remaining amount on food, I paid KES 4000.00 for school fees for my two grandchildren who had been sent home for fees and their father was not in a position to settle the issue.