Since I received the last transfer and my life has been uplifted, I never wish to move back to where I was before. Therefore, I plan on expanding my business through the savings and profits of my retail shop business. Furthermore, I hope to venture into the mpesa business since it attracts customers as they have to travel far to get more shops to transact. Therefore, I will have saved them financially by cutting down on the cost of transportation as well as earning profit to support my family of 5.

I applaud Givedirectly for making the transfers unconditional because people have different needs that influence their spending areas. The spending restrictions sum it all up, as it cautions against misuse and the possibility of pausing the transfers if found guilty. In addition, I am glad that for one to be enrolled no payment is required. This pulls down on theft and fraud on the recipients.

As a breadwinner to my family of 5, I have to toil hard to make ends meet by seeking additional sources of income. I am glad to be supporting them now through the bodaboda business and the profits from the retail shop I opened up in January 2023 using the first transfers. Though the bodaboda business is unpredictable as the $7 income I earn on a good day, caters for food for the household and I have no savings. Therefore, from the last transfers, I used $300 to add stock to the retail shop business hence further supporting my family financially. I am excited tho have saved the rest of the transfers in preparation for opening a mpesa shop hence fulfilling my long-time desire to own one such business.

It was around 5 p.m. when I received a message from GiveDirectly, which I immediately recognized. The majority of the people in the village had received the same message, and I knew where it came from. I was overjoyed, and even though I was alone at home, I could not help but rejoice. Later that evening, I informed my family members, who were equally thrilled.

I have seen a lot of change in my family and in my daily life as a result of GiveDirectly. The biggest difference in my daily life has been finishing the construction of a shop, stocking it, and reviving a motorcycle that I had given up on. I am hoping that with the last transfer, I will be able to expand the business even further by launching a mobile money shop alongside my retail business.

Previously, I ran a motorcycle taxi that had to come to a halt because I could not repair or replace some parts on my motorcycle. Because it was the primary source of income that would only be supplemented by unproductive farming activities, I needed to find another way to feed my family. I was fortunate to find another casual job in a nearby restaurant, which was also short-lived when it closed, and I had to return to farming activities. Receiving the first transfer was a huge relief, and I had to work hard to get back on track. I spent $450 finishing up a shop that I had begun building. I purchased a steel door, plastered the floors, and spent the remainder on retail goods that I am currently selling. Despite the fact that it is a new business that I hope to expand in the future, I am pleased that the local community has been visiting to purchase household goods. Furthermore, I spent $100 on motorcycle repair, which I hope will aid in the daily transportation of goods from a wholesaler in a nearby shopping center to my shop. The cost of operation will be reduced as a result, maximizing the projected profit margin.