I have a wife at home, but, well, I haven’t paid her dowry yet. It’s something that’s been weighing on me for a while now. You know, it’s not that I don’t want to—I do. I want to honor her family and make everything official. But, life… life hasn’t been easy. Right now, where we’re staying, every time it rains heavily, we’re on edge because of the flooding. I plan that once the tomatoes I planted are ready, I’ll sell them off and use the money to buy a small piece of land. That’s my ticket to moving out of this place and into somewhere better—somewhere safe. After that, I’ll keep planting, keep working hard. Once we’re settled and life feels a bit more stable, I’ll finally take the step I’ve been meaning to take for a while. I’ll pay the dowry which is important to all of us and I want to do it right, make our marriage official in the way it should be. We’ve been through a lot together, and I want to honor her properly.

When GiveDirectly came to our village, I didn't know what to expect. But what I liked most was that everyone in the village got the money. It didn’t matter who you were, as long as you lived within the village boundaries, you were included. There was no favoritism or exclusion, and for once, we all felt like we mattered equally. What also impressed me was how organized everything was. Every single person who was enrolled in the project received the money, just as they had promised. There was no confusion or delay. They explained everything clearly from the start, so there were no surprises. We understood exactly how the process worked, and that gave us a lot of confidence in the program. GiveDirectly truly kept their word, and that transparency made all the difference for us and for that, I do not see anything that needs to be changed.

I used $105 to buy tomato seedlings since it's planting season and tomatoes are currently in high demand in my region. To ensure they grow well, I spent $25 on fertilizer and $20 to plough half an acre of land for planting. I also purchased $50 worth of pesticides to protect the crop as they grow. I'm hopeful that when the tomatoes mature, they'll fetch a good price in the market. Aside from the farming investments, we used $50 to buy food items for the household to ensure we were food secure. My wife also mentioned that our household utensils were old and outdated, so I used another $50 to buy new ones. I wanted to make sure our home was comfortable and presentable, and these new items were much needed. Additionally, I bought clothes for myself and my children for $50 since what we had was getting worn out. It feels good to have fresh clothes after a long time. Lastly, I spent $100 on two goats, as I want to stop buying milk in the future and ensure a steady supply at home. The remaining amount, I set aside for any emergencies that may come up. I feel prepared and optimistic about the future, and I believe this support will help me and my family grow, both in farming and in our overall wellbeing.

It was late afternoon, and I was busy fixing my fence destroyed by the floods that hit us hard in May. Suddenly, my phone, which was in my pocket, beeped, indicating an incoming message. I immediately reached for it to check the SMS. To my surprise, it was a Mpesa message indicating that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly. Overwhelmed with joy, I quickly called my spouse to share the good news. Later that evening, my spouse and I sat down together to thoughtfully plan how to use the money. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for your support.

Ever since receiving the transfer, the most significant change in my life is that I am less stressed about finding food for my family. The flood destroyed everything I had, including our stored food, which was about 40 kg of maize. Life became a struggle as I had to rely on casual work to provide for them, and this work was not guaranteed. I could only find work twice a week and earn just $3 per day, which was insufficient to cover our food needs. The transfer allowed me to purchase enough food for my family, ensuring that my four children are well-fed and there is no risk of hunger, unlike before. This stability has also enabled me to focus on my one-and-a-half-acre maize farm, rather than being torn between seeking work and tending to my own farm. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I can now concentrate on my farming activities, which I am confident will lead to increased productivity.

Last rainy season, our area was hit by devastating floods. The floods intruded on our house, destroying our furniture, clothes, and food supplies. The transfer came as a much-needed relief, enabling me to restore what had been lost. First, I used $40 to buy a sack of maize, ensuring that my family would not miss their meals. Next, I spent $50 on clothes for the family since our previous clothing was ruined by the floods. To replace the destroyed furniture, I bought three plastic chairs and a table for $40. Additionally, I used $20 to pay towards my children's primary school fees. This ensured they could continue their education without being sent home. I assured the school head that I would clear the remaining fees as soon as I received the next transfer. When we were displaced by the floods, I had to sell my two goats to meet my family's basic needs. Realizing the value of these animals during emergencies like that, I used the remaining amount from the transfer to buy a goat to replace one of the ones I had sold. This ensures that I have an asset to sell in the future if needed.