Before the coming of GiveDirectly, I majorly depended on subsistence farming only, which has not been doing well due to unpredictable rainfall patterns. However, my life is currently different because I am now self-employed. I managed to start a food kiosk and a grocery shop from which I am earning a good income daily. This income has even enabled me to save enough money to buy building materials to build a new house for my family. I am also paying school fees for my children who are in high school. Apart from the business, I also own two cows which I am currently keeping in my homestead. I know these cows will reproduce and supply milk for my business and sell the surplus. Besides, they are my assets which I can readily rely on them in case of a financial problem.

The financial support has majorly brought a positive impact by improving our living standards. People can now access good shelter, taking their children to school and also owning livestock which are assets of great value to us. This has changed our lives and in my opinion, GiveDirectly has does well on improving peoples lives. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.

I desired a business that would be a good source of income for us. I, however, lacked the capital but when I received my second transfer, I spent KES 30000 and bought some building materials which include iron sheets, timber and building poles to construct a food kiosk and a grocery. Having done this, I bought chairs and tables necessary for the food kiosk as well as set the grocery. I invested KES 23000 by purchasing enough stock to run the food kiosk and also stock of groceries. My business is now doing well and I am earning a good income. I can now comfortably fulfil my family's basic needs as well as paying for my children school fees.

Owning the pair of oxen is the biggest difference in my daily life. I was always incurring huge costs of hiring per acreage which would have rather supported other financial needs. Through the financial support from GiveDirectly, I acquired my own and I am happy that I will no longer be hiring from my neighbours anymore.

I was filled with happiness the moment I saw the notification from GiveDirectly on my phone. As I went through its content, it was informing me that I had received my first transfer. I was further overjoyed on the thought that I would revive my shop to life again.

I spent part of my first transfer to purchase a pair of oxen. I was initially doing my farming with tools that were inferior and for me to cultivate a large piece of land I had to hire which was expensive to me. This was the only way to boost my harvest and relieve me of the cost of buying daily food which was expensive. So getting a better harvest would cut off the cost of buying food for some time. I also paid for my children's school fees in school. I did shopping for my family's basic needs and clothing. I also operate a shop in my home and affairs were not good and profits were dwindling for some time and on getting the transfer, I added the stock to my shop and now it's doing well. I am expecting to earn good profits from it. All support through the support from GiveDirectly.