When I receive my third transfer, I plan to invest it in farming. If the harvest turns out well, I will reinvest the income in agriculture, focusing on both livestock and crops. I especially want to buy cows because I love milk and want to have my own cows to milk daily. Before I got married, I used to drink milk freely at my father's home, and I could have as much as I wanted at any time. Now, I can’t enjoy milk in the same way because I don’t have my own cows, and going back to my father’s home is not an option since I am married. Owning cows will give me the independence to enjoy milk again while also providing for my family’s needs.

I appreciate how GiveDirectly follows up with us to ensure that we use the money correctly and invest it wisely. I also like the way they provided security through theft protection on M-Pesa and PIN numbers to keep our money safe. This attention to security made me feel more confident in how the funds were managed. Overall, GiveDirectly did everything right, and I did not notice anything wrong in the way they handled the process. They have been very supportive, and I feel grateful for the assistance. I am satisfied with the way GiveDirectly conducted everything.

Life had been very challenging for me, especially with the responsibility of raising two children and managing a household after my husband retired as a security guard four years ago. Recognizing the need for more space for my growing sons, I used $230 from the cash transfer to buy materials to build a house for them. This decision was necessary to ensure their comfort and privacy. Additionally, I purchased a new bed and mattress for $70 because my sons had been sleeping on the sofas. I gave them my old bed so everyone in the family could sleep more comfortably.I also made essential improvements to our home. I spent $15 on two chairs and $16 on curtains to make the house more functional and welcoming. With $20, I repaired our kitchen, which had been in bad condition for some time and needed immediate attention. Unfortunately, I fell ill with typhoid and malaria and had to spend $20 on medical bills to recover. Taking care of my health was crucial for maintaining my ability to provide for my family.With the remaining amount, I bought food to ensure there was enough at home, which meant I no longer had to rely on casual jobs to feed my family. This allowed me to focus on farming and spending more time with my children. The cash transfer has transformed my life, giving me stability, better health, and peace at home, for which I am incredibly grateful.

I had just gotten home from the day’s work, and we were sitting under a tree with my in-laws, relaxing after a long day. Suddenly, my phone chimed with a message notification, and out of curiosity, I went to check. To my surprise, my in-laws also received messages at the same time. We all quickly realized it was money from GiveDirectly. Without thinking, we jumped up from our seats, hugging and cheering. It was such a joyful moment! We celebrated right there, knowing that our long-awaited plan to build a pit latrine would finally be a reality.

The biggest difference I have seen since I received the transfer is that I now have a pit latrine of my own. For the last four years since we moved here, my family and I have been sharing a pit latrine with our neighbors, and it reached a point where they started complaining. They would often accuse us of leaving it dirty, even though we always made sure to clean it after using it. The tension was uncomfortable, but thanks to the money from GiveDirectly, we were able to build our latrine, and that has lifted a huge burden off our shoulders. Now that we have our own latrine, the misunderstandings with our neighbors have reduced significantly, and everyone is happier. It feels good to have that independence and privacy, and we no longer have to worry about who is saying what or getting into unnecessary arguments over cleanliness. Having this basic facility has improved our peace of mind and made life here much more comfortable.

For a long time, my family and I had been sharing a pit latrine with our neighbors. While this arrangement worked for a while, it eventually caused tension. The neighbors started complaining about the overuse, and we knew we had to make a change. So, when the transfer came in, we set aside $90 to build our pit latrine. This has brought a sense of relief and privacy to our household. Another priority for me was ensuring my son could continue his education without interruptions. He’s in Form 1, and I have been relying on my sister to help cover his school fees. I didn’t want him to be sent home again for unpaid fees, so I took $80 from the transfer to pay for part of his tuition. It felt good to contribute directly to his education this time and ease the burden on my sister. With the remaining funds, I focused on food. I used the rest of the money to buy household food items, ensuring we had enough to keep us food secure for the coming weeks. It gave me peace of mind knowing that my family wouldn’t have to worry about where our next meal would come from, at least for a while.