With school fees being my main challenge, I am truly grateful for the anticipated transfers, as they have given me some hope for the coming year. I plan to spend KES 45000 towards my children's school fees to ensure they continue their education without interruption. That alone brings me a great sense of relief, knowing I will not have to face the same financial pressure as before. Additionally, I will set aside another KES 45000 to cultivate maize on a 2-acre piece of land I plan to lease. This crop is essential not just for providing food, but for helping me earn some income that can support my family in the months ahead. Farming has always been a way for me to make ends meet, and I am hopeful that the land will bring in a good harvest again. The remaining funds will go towards repairing my one-bedroom house, which is in urgent need of attention. It is almost falling apart, and I have been putting off the repairs for a while for lack of finances. Though I still face many challenges, I am thankful for the opportunity to plan ahead and make these investments for my family’s well-being. It gives me a sense of control and a little peace of mind knowing that I am taking steps to secure a better future for my children.

In March 2024, I decided to sow maize on my 1-acre piece of land, hoping it would provide some income for my family of five. Fortunately, the rains were good this year, and by August 2024, I had managed to harvest 20 bags of maize. I was able to sell them for KES 40000, which I used to pay my children’s school fees. That money truly eased a significant financial burden for me, and for the first time in a while, I felt a sense of relief. It was such a blessing, and I was incredibly grateful that the harvest had come through just when we needed it most. It gave me hope that, despite the challenges, there’s always a way forward when I keep working hard for my family.

Raising school fees for my three children in high school and university is a huge challenge right now. I rely on boat riding to earn KES 30000 during peak tourist seasons, but sometimes I make nothing at all. All that money goes toward food and my children’s school fees, but it is never quite enough. Last term, for example, my two children in high school were sent home for not paying KES 20000 in fees, which I did not have at the time. I had to sell four of my goats to raise KES 18000. Even now, I still owe KES 2000 in arrears, and every day I struggle to raise enough money so that when school opens in January 2025, they will have something to take with them. I am doing everything I can, but sometimes it feels like I am running in circles. I want to provide for my children and make sure they stay in school, but it is hard to keep up with the demands when the income is so unpredictable.