Back in the village it has always quite difficult when it came to issues to do with lightning since we can barely afford to install electricity since it is costly. Most times we rely on lamps that use kerosene which also require money and when we do not have money we stay I total darkness and this is stressful especially to the kids since they can neither do their homework nor study. Fortunately after I received this money I decided to invest in solar power where I was required to pay in installments which was KES 60 everyday for a year and three months according to the calculations and deal we made. To me this was a fair deal cause my kids could read, do their homework and we finally had lights at home. For the first installment I paid KES 2,000. I was left with KES 1,000 which I used to buy a bag of maize flour that contained a dozen packets so as to cater for nourishment since we barely had any food in the house.

I work as guard in a nearby hospital and am the breadwinner of a family of 7 members.I depend on my part time job and my job as a transporter because I own a cart.Its been been struggle lately since the jobs are seasonal and not guaranteed. When I received my first transfer I was super excited and I used kshs 2000 as school fees for my two children in secondary school and used kshs 1000 to buy food.The second transfer came I paid kshs 2000 as school fees for my secondary children again , bought 2 chicken for kshs 250 each bought food with the remaining cash of kshs 500.The recent transfer came and I used the kshs 2000 for school fees for both my secondary and primary children.The rest kshs 1000 I bought food that could atleast get us through the month.

If it were not for Give directly I do not where I would get this money. I know I would still be struggling to make ends meet. It is very hard in this day and age for people to give unconditional money. I have yet to see something that Give directly needs to change.

This year has been tough especially for my children as having been sent home constantly due to school fees balances. My two form one sons have especially felt the effect as they are at a new school. I took KES.2000 and paid for both of them. This would allow them to do the exams that are around the corner. The KES.1000 that remained was used to buy food for the family. During this drought, it has been very difficult to get food as we now cannot go to the farm. We have to buy yet we have no money. Thanks to Give directly life has been easier.

The day this money was sent my phone was at the nearest shop charging. I heard from my neighbors that they had received the money. I quickly left to get my phone to check if I too had gotten the message. I knew where to spend this money as my children had just been sent home from school due to the school fees balance. I was very pleased that I got this money.

The biggest difference in my life is that I now have security. This money I will be getting will be part of our monthly budget where I can allocate it to school fees for my children. This means I can finally get to relax in terms of finding extra work during these tough times. I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for this opportunity.

I had received KES.1200 because I had to get this phone which coated me KES.1800, to enable me to connect with Give directly. THE money that I had received was immediately put into paying for school fees for my two children who are in high school. In total, I have five children who are in school and need their education. I also know in the future I can plan for them so as not to miss classes and it's all thanks to Give directly.