We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time.
Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($493 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Since we were evicted from Mau Forest, we used to live on a small piece of land which we were given by our relative because we had nowhere to live by then. When we received the transfers we bought a piece of land and with the second transfers we built out own house. Now I am glad that we now have our new home courtesy of GiveDirectly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly enrolled every household in our village and this was a show of equality. On what was not done well, I didn't see any.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My main plan was to build a better house and when I received my second transfers, I spent KES 30000 on buying building materials such as ironsheets, nails, timber and posts for constructing a house. The remaining amount of KES 23000, I spent part of it on buying foodstuffs such as maize, sugar and beans and the remaining portion on buying clothes for my family members.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was exactly 8 AM when I was washing the utensils then my phone started ringing. I left whatever I was up to and concentrated on checking the content of the notification. Wow! i could not belive what i saw, itb was the Mpesa message from GiveDirecty. I was overwhelmed with joy and felt like I have been born again.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before the coming of GiveDirectly into my life, I used to lease people's farms whenever it was the planting season. This is because the one that I am currently owning was too small and it was unproductive. Most of the time I could not afford in paying the required money to lease the lands, therefore I ended up sticking into my lane and that could mean that I couldn't harvest any in that particular season. This contributed to the poverty because my children used to starve and this really frustrated me for years. Therefore owning my own piece of land makes the biggest difference in my daily life because I will no longer have to worry about the charges and I am assured about harvesting a lot because the land seems to be so productive.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying a piece of land at KES 40000. I have been dreaming of owning my own piece of land but this was not achievable since I could not afford it. Also, I paid school fees and bought uniforms for my children who are still in primary schools. They are no staying peacefully without any disturbances. With the remaining amount of money, I bought sufficient foodstuffs and other household items that I was lacking.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
In the year 2017, my family was forcefully evicted from Mau Forest. I was left landless and was forced to seek refuge in my uncle's place where I stay up until today. I have a desire to have a place I can proudly call home. I intend to buy a small parcel of land of approximately 0.2-acres at a cost of 60000 shillings. This will relieve me the stress that has been with me ever since I was evicted. Receiving this money will mean a lot to me and my family as it will enable us to have a place to finally call home.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Despite all the challenges I still find reasons to smile. I am always happy in the morning because I am grateful to God for making me see another day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am one of the people who were forcefully evicted from Mau Forest by the government. I am landless and I have nowhere to call home. Long time ago my father sold his parcel of land in our ancestral home and relocated to Mau Narok where he was duped into buying land that belonged to the government. After 20 years of living there, the government issued an eviction notice and we could not believe our eyes because we knew no other place to call home. We were forced to defy the order but at the expiry of that notice our houses were set ablaze the police. We were left out in the cold and I was forced to trace my relatives here in Chepalungu. I was given a house to stay in but I just cannot stop thinking about the place I once called home.
