I have a totally different plan from what I had planned before. I am planning to but at least buy twenty more bulls, then fifty then more going onwards depending on how I will get money. This has been my dream and by saving sparingly, I believe I am going to make it in this new business venture.

I am happy because of receiving these transfers and I thank God for the same. Since I started receiving these transfers, my life changed for the best. The help you gave me was so great. I thank you so much for this I don’t take it for granted. Many people spent money on basic needs like food, shelter, and education but I spent it very differently and I believe it is going to make a difference in my life

I own a small shop. I had planned with the money earlier on even before I received it because I had heard about GiveDirectly money from our neighboring village which had received this form of aid. It came at the right time and my plans for using the money went so well. I managed to buy two bulls at kes. 19500 each totaling to kes. 39000. The remaining kes. 10000 I bought food for my family and kes. 4000 paid school for my children. I am a father of four. My wife has no any other job but helps the shop, farming and cattle keeping. Before the transfer came, I had three bulls but now I have five bulls’ curtesy of GiveDirectly. I choose bulls because it’s for business purposes, its sells at higher price that female cows, I’ll feed them well until next year when I will sell them at a higher price and buy more bulls again. My goal is to have at least 50 or more bulls in my compound.

I can still remember very well I was at the farm looking after my cows when I saw the message notification from my mobile phone. Upon checking, I confirmed that it was the long-awaited Mpesa message that I had patiently been waiting for. I was overwhelmed with joy and I had to leave for home so that I could share the news with my family members.

The biggest difference in my daily life is that I was able to boost my kiosk business and started a new one( buying and selling bulls). Initially, I used to depend on the kiosk but the little profit I used to earn was too little to sort out all my family's bills on time. Being the breadwinner of seven, it has been quite tough because the business was not lucrative and most of the time, my children have not been attending classes as a result of the fees arrears. Also, I could not afford to provide for other household basic needs like food. This has been stressing me for so many years but I was so hopeful that all shall be well with time. Currently, there is a relief and I am so thankful because I have been earning good profits and I no longer have to struggle to meet my basic needs. Also, my children are now in school studying without any hiccups.

I spent KES 15000 of my first cash transfer on boosting my kiosk busines. This had to be a priority because the business was about to collapse which would affect my entire household negatively. I am so thankful because I have been earning good returns after reviving it. To add to that I started a new business of buying and selling the oxen which cost around KES 40000. I plan that after six months I will sell them at a higher price and earn a living. This will be a long-time investment and business that I trust will empower me to fend for my family without straining.