For the past three years, as a community, we have not only faced the hardship related to the Covid-19 pandemic, but we have also experienced a severe drought that has made life unbearable. For instance, for us to obtain water, we need to spend about 3 hours to make it to the key water points available. I mainly rely on subsistence farming although that has not been so since, for the past 3 years, it has not been raining. It has been hard to get food and water. I am grateful that when I received my transfer, I spent KES 400 on buying water from those who sell it around for KES 100 per 20 litre jerrican. On that day I did not have any element of water in my house, and unfortunately, I had no money. Furthermore, I bought maize flour and other foodstuff for KES 1300. I am glad that for the past 2 weeks, my family has been feeding well.

GiveDirectly is an equal helper to everyone in need. Many people have been able to better their livelihoods, they have never discriminated anyone and have always kept on with their great values.

Receiving the 1st transfer, I was glad and elated as we had shortage of food and ended up using KES 1000 to add to the food supplements required; the remaining KES 200, I used for transport to the hospital to acquire treatment from our local hospital. Our area was hit by water shortage after a while and on receiving the 2nd transfer totalling to KES 3050, I was relieved as I spent it to purchase some water and also add to the food in my house to ensure we didn't sleep hungry.

I was from fetching water from a nearby water pan. While doing my house chores in the morning I leave my phone in the house. When I got home I continued doing other house chores and when I had finished checked my phone. Upon checking it out I found that I had received the transfer from GiveDirectly. I quickly took the phone and went to the shop and bought food using the money. I was very happy.

Yes, the money has made a big difference in my life. Currently, we do not sleep hungry anymore. The transfer has made our life better. We now have food to eat unlike before.

For the longest time of my life, I have depended much on my farm for my survival. Previously I would grow maize, beans, cassava, and some other food crops. I will then harvest once they mature and use some of it as food at home while I would sell the rest. After selling I would get the money that I will use to do some other projects and also attend to my needs and that of my family. Since the beginning of the drought, everything has changed for me. I no longer plant anything on my farm. I now depend on manual jobs such as fetching water and building houses for other people. The little I earn is not enough to even feed my entire family. When I received the transfer I decided to spend it on buying food for my family. We had spent the better part of that week sleeping hungry and just having little to eat. Due to everything that I was going through at that time, I started becoming sick and I spent KSH 200 of the transfer to seek medication for myself.