Because of my age, I spend the majority of my time at home, occasionally doing some farming. I had left my phone in my house on the day of the transfer, and I was not aware that a transfer had been sent until a neighbor inquired whether I had received any money. After receiving this information, I could not wait to check my phone. I went to check my phone, and to my surprise and delight, I had received my first transfer. The thought of finally building a new house with an iron roof and moving out of my grass-thatched hut heightened my joy.

My living house collapsed a few years ago, and I could not easily build a new one; instead, I just built a temporary structure out of grass thatched, which was inadequate for shelter. However, because I could not afford to build a new house, I had to suffer through the cold whenever it rained, until the same structure could no longer withstand any more rain and the walls collapsed. I am living alone, with only a little help from my children, who have moved away. I was in a lot of pain because I knew it would take me years to get back up and raise the funds to build a new house. I would like to thank GiveDirectly because when I enrolled, my top priority was to build an iron-roofed house, which I was able to do thanks to the transfer. I, like my fellow villagers, have a safe place to stay. Besides this, I also have some livestock, such as goats and chickens, that, in the midst of a financial crisis, I can readily sell to cater for my financial needs.

I spent a larger portion of the first transfer on building materials, including 14 iron sheets, building poles, and nails, in order to build a new house. For many years, I have sought refuge in a grass-thatched hut. It is also very small, and one of the walls collapsed due to its weakness and inability to withstand heavy rains. I could not afford to renovate it until I got my first transfer, at which point I decided to build a large iron-roofed house. Unlike in the hut, I am no longer afraid of rain or having to replace the roof in the new house. Furthermore, I spent KES 10500 of the transfer money on livestock. I bought two goats and four chickens, which I am now raising. In my old age, I relied on subsistence farming and did not own any livestock. Owning these livestock is a good investment, and I believe that once they reproduce and multiply, I will be able to sell them to meet my financial needs. Finally, food was a challenge, but after receiving the money, I was able to do enough shopping on cereals, which included maize flour, to ensure that there was enough food available and adequate food to partake in on a daily basis.