In the coming year, I would wish to start a small kiosk business at our home which is close to the nearby road. I am planning to construct a small semi-permanent shop and stock it with vegetables like tomatoes, cabbage and fruit like oranges, and mangos. This will be a reliable source of livelihood for myself that would support me in meeting basic needs like food.

In my opinion, Givedirectly did well in visiting every household and offering them training before allowing them to participate in the program. Furthermore, it was voluntary to be included in the program and no one was coerced. I do not see anything that the organization did not do well and the transfers were very supportive of many poor households in our villages.

I received the second transfer when I was sick due to severe ulcers. I did not have money to clear the medical bills. I spent $90 of the recent transfer to pay off all the expenses at the hospital. Currently, I am glad to recover from the illness after the medication. Also, I used $50 to boost livestock rearing by purchasing one more goat. After that, I used $115 to purchase modern bedding for myself. This is because I was sleeping on traditional twisted threads bed using old sacks as bedding which was not comfortable since I felt body pains every morning. Lastly, I used the remaining amount to enlarge my house by constructing an additional room because it was very small.

I remember well that evening the transfer was sent. I was unwell and planned to visit the hospital the following morning. I did not have cash for medication. I had contacted my sons for help and I was waiting for them to respond. That's when I received an mpesa message on my phone. I thought my sons had sent the money but when I checked. I was greatly overjoyed when I learnt that the money was from GiveDirectly. They had finally sent the first transfer, I couldn't thank them enough and I felt happy and relieved because I was able to get medication the following morning.

It has been my desire to build a new spacious house since my living house was in a bad state. It's small and I have to squeeze my items to get some space. I am now in the process of building a new house through the transfers. I purchased enough building materials which include 20 pieces of iron sheets, and building poles and paid for the labour. Living in a spacious house makes it to be the biggest difference in my daily life. It would have taken a long time for me to save enough money to upgrade to a spacious iron-roofed house.

I have been living in a small house though my desire was to upgrade to a better house. I thank GiveDirectly because they made this dream come true. I was able to spend Ksh. 30000 on buying enough building materials which include 20 pieces of iron sheets, nails and building poles. I also paid for the cost of labour involved in constructing my new house. In addition to this, I also spent Ksh. 5000 for my medication. Apart from this, I also purchased two goats at Ksh. 8000 which I am currently keeping on my homestead. I am expecting them to reproduce and have many of them. I can readily rely on them in case of a financial crisis. I am also doing a small business of vending fruits from which I earn an income of Ksh. 1500 weekly. I thus invested the remaining amount in this business. I am glad that it is doing well and through it, I am able to meet my basic needs like food in my household.