Immediately I accomplished all that I had at first planned; paying school fees for my children, I developed a new goal of starting up poultry farming. I had been longing for this venture for years. It is perceived to be a lucrative business that I desired to run although I never had some sources of income. So far I have built up a kitchen house and looking at how to bring some chicks. Through this, I am very hopeful that I shall become independent and support my family of seven.

GiveDirectly does well in keeping the community where it works informed on its way of operation during the sensitization period. It, therefore, gives unconditional cash transfers that its recipients can spend in the way they deem fit without dictation. Its emphasis on the need for Mpesa security practices is vital for safety among the recipients. Moreover, in its practice staff visit potential households during enrollment time. I consider that to a great extent, it empathizes with us. So I have never witnessed what it does not do well.

From my transfer, I spent KES 13,000 on building a kitchen structure that I am planning to use to raise chicken. In addition, I spent 18,000 on buying food and paying part of the school fees for my five children. As a result, one of my sons in college could not get the financial support he needed. Without the transfer, I am not sure how I would be of help to him because I was financially constrained then. I had reached the point of giving up because I was more often overwhelmed. Courtesy of the transfer, my family has a sigh of financial relief.

I was in a community meeting (Harambee) raising money to help vulnerable women affected by the persistent drought. My phone rang out loudly and upon checking it, I realized I had received my first transfer. The other women in the room looked at me as I jumped up and down in ecstasy. I broke the good news to them. I had received my first transfer and they could not believe it as everybody in the room reached out for their phones. After confirming that they had received their transfers, we all broke into singing and dancing as we enjoyed celebrating the moment.

My worst fear was being chased out of the land that I had failed to finish paying for. This was majorly caused by spending a lot of the money I earned on treating my sick son and having nothing left to save. Using my first transfer to complete paying for the land is the biggest difference I have had in my life since receiving the transfer. I can now have peace of mind and live a peaceful life knowing that I fully own the land.

My eldest son was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at two. A lack of a stable source of income has made it difficult for my husband and me to provide him with medical attention. My husband works as a casual laborer selling firewood thus earning very little (KES 500 per day) which is enough to buy food for the family (husband and 5 children). When I received my first transfer, I spent KES 5600 to buy medicine that will suppress his medical condition. In addition, I completed the payment of KES 20000 for a piece of land I bought ten years ago. The piece of land gave me sleepless nights because I was afraid that the owner would chase me away after failing to pay the remaining amount for a long time. Moreover, I spent KES 18000 on investing in a poultry business so that I could help my husband in clearing some bills that he was currently struggling to meet. Finally, I spent the remaining amount on buying food in bulk for my family after spending the previous week surviving on one meal a day due to a lack of money to buy enough food.