The unconditional transfers from GiveDirectly are very helpful to me. Being elderly and unable to work, the funds are a major boost in ensuring I live comfortably in the village. I would like the staff from the organization to conduct physical follow-ups and assess the impact of the funds within the village.

I have suffered a lot of losses by not having a door to my house. I cannot travel too far places because I fear that once I do, I will lose all my property. The nights are the worst time for me. I am always affected by the cold and misty air that gets in the house through the door opening. I can recall one time when I was very close to being bitten by a snake that quietly slithered into the house during the night. These horrifying experiences forced me to spend KES 1000 fixing a permanent door to my house. Besides fixing the door, I spent the remaining cash amounting to KES 2000 to buy food. I am of age and can no longer work. I stay with my daughter-in-law who works as a casual laborer and earns very little (200 per day) which is not enough to feed the family (daughter-in-law, 4 grandchildren, and I). It is for this reason that I decide to buy food in bulk so that we could have plenty to eat.

I was in my house lying on my bed waiting for the sun to rise high in the sky. Because of my age and delicate condition, I have to stay indoors as the chilly morning weather affects me badly. While in the house, my phone vibrated loudly, and I called my grandson, who checked it out. He informed it had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was thrilled and smiled from ear to ear. I requested my grandson to go withdraw the money and buy me food.

I have noticed a big difference before and after receiving the money. I used to survive on one meal a day, but that has changed since I received the money. My health has improved since I eat a balance diet and I eat three times a day. 

At the time I received my first transfer, the major challenge that I was facing was hunger. I am old, have no job and fully depend on my children for their support. I am happy that they support me whenever I ask them too, but sometimes they are not in a position to do so. They work on manual jobs in house construction and also as motorcycle riders. With the little they earn, it is not enough to support their families and me, too. When I received my first transfer, it thrilled me that I was going to buy food in bulk that would take me through a few weeks ahead. I am happy that the food lasted me two weeks and my sons could save enough to buy me food thereafter.