With GiveDirectly transfers, my major dreams of building a better house and owning a dairy cow are now fulfilled. I, therefore, intend to enroll in teaching a course in Early Childhood Education. This is because I have savings in the merry-go-round contributions which I joined four years ago. I am confident that once I finish the course, I will get a job and will be financially independent.

In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well to inform us the transfers are unconditional hence the freedom to spend. I also noted from the meeting, that GiveDirectly is not associated with the government nor politics and religious groups. In addition, registration in our village was fairly done.

Before GiveDirectly, I used to live in a tiny grass-thatched house that could only accommodate my family of three. I had wished to build a better house for the past four years and even invested in merry-go-round contributions. Luckily, GiveDirectly came in before I received my contributions. I, therefore, topped up my first transfer and a part second transfer and built a two-roomed Iron roofed house. From the first transfer, I used KES 12,900 on Ironsheets and KES 22,900 from the second transfer was used on Ironsheets and timber. After completion of my Iron roofed house, I can now accommodate my family and visitors at the same time. From the Iron roofs also, I am now able to get and store clean rainy rainwater as well. To feed my family, I majorly depended on the farming of tomatoes, sukuma wiki, and indigenous vegetables. From the sale of vegetables I could get up to KES 300 in two weeks and this normally supplements household expenses. Fortunately, when I received GiveDirectly transfers I spent KES 5000 on a bag of maize and KES6000 on clothing. Farming was also quite a struggle due to the lack of money to buy farm inputs. Although my husband works in a nearby supermarket and earns KES12000 a month. The family needs would be too much for this amount. But when GiveDirectly transfers came, I spent KES 3,000 on plowing land and KES 1,000 on the purchase of maize and bean seeds.

It was around 9.30 am when I received the transfer and I knew about this a few minutes later after I was done helping my friend milk her cow. My neighbors were shouting and celebrating for the money that they had received and on checking my phone, my heart was filled with happiness upon confirming receipt. I knew that all my plans would finally be realized and I would not hold back the joy of knowing that I would soon own a dairy cow.

Owning a dairy cow that can supply my family with milk is a dream come true. Before receiving this cash transfer, we had to buy milk for use at home and we would spend at least KES 1500 monthly. This, however, was not financially sustainable for us since my husband who is the breadwinner is a casual laborer. On a good day, he can earn KES 300 and this amount is not enough to pay for all our living expenses including food, clothing, and education and I'm pleased that this will no longer be the case very soon. From the amount that we received, we bought a dairy cow that is almost calving hence it will supply us with enough milk for consumption and sale.

When I received my first transfer, I spent KES 18000 to buy a dairy cow worth and KES 1000 to buy 3 chickens as a way of investing this money. I am glad that my family will have enough milk for consumption and sale once it calves and I will also be able to save the money I would otherwise use in buying milk. In addition, I spent KES 13000 to buy some iron sheets that I am planning to use in building a house for my family once I receive my second transfer since the house I am currently living in is small. From the remaining amount, I spent KES 2300 to purchase a three-seater seat and KES 3500 to buy a bed since we did not have them. Also, I spent KES 4000 on clothes for my family, KES 7000 on food, and KES KES 5000 on medication for my spouse who was involved in an accident and sustained minor injuries.