"I acquired a piece of land near a river with the intention of doing irrigation and planting vegetables and maize crops. This would help ensure food security in my household and generate income by selling the surplus. However, due to financial constraints, I was unable to pay off the debt on time and was not allowed to start farming. With my recent transfer, I managed to pay off the $500 debt and now plan to start the irrigation. My focus is to grow fresh vegetables and maize crops for my family's consumption and sell the surplus to supplement my income. This will not only ensure food security but also provide additional income, making it easier to meet other household needs."

"When the third transfer came through, my spouse and I sat down to plan how to use it wisely. We agreed to allocate $200 towards paying the school fees for our son, who is currently in Form 2 for this coming term, to make his secondary education journey smoother without interruption. This brought us a sense of relief, knowing that we could have enough time to look for money to cover the fees for the other terms through maize farming on our two-acre plot and from my wife's food hawking business savings. Another $30 went towards restocking food supplies for my wife's business, which is crucial in meeting the daily needs of our family of eleven. She prepares and delivers cooked food to farm workers at the Perkerra irrigation scheme. Additionally, we decided to invest $120 in purchasing two sheep. We expect them to multiply and provide us with offspring that we can sell to support our children's education down the line. We aim to ensure that all our nine children complete their education. I allocated $50 to facilitate irrigation on our two-acre maize farm, ensuring it remains well-watered for optimal growth. Lastly, I used the remaining to purchase a sack of maize. This ensures that we have enough food, especially during this April holiday when all our children are at home because their schools are closed."

"I intend to utilize my first transfer to build a separate house for my grown up boys as they have been sleeping in the kitchen. As a long term investment, I also plan to use my second transfer to invest in irrigation farming. This will be through planting of short term crops like peas and butternuts since they are not labour intensive. This will ensure that there will be an increase in my cash flow within a short period of time and at the same time venture into other income generating activities like livestock keeping."

"I am a single parent and the sole provider of my five children. Our living conditions are congested and poor, with all of us squeezed into a small, single-room house with mud walls and an iron sheet roof. Despite its limited space, act as a kitchen, living room, and sleeping area. I have longed for a better home, but most of my income goes towards providing food and meeting other basic needs for my children. I rely on farming vegetables and maize on the one-acre plot of land given to me by my father. This small farm is our main source of income, but it's constantly threatened by climate fluctuations. Depending on irrigation, the lack of rainfall often leads to the river drying up, resulting in poor harvests. The second transfer provided some hope to us, for building a larger, more comfortable house made of iron sheets. I purchased the necessary materials for $350, intending to begin construction once I receive the third transfer. This new house will not only be more inviting to visitors, as I often feel embarrassed by our current living situation, but it will also provide ample space for my children to study. Additionally, I used $50 to prepare my land for maize farming, ensuring timely planting and increasing our chances of a successful harvest, provided the rain continues. I used the remaining funds to purchase essential food items such as sugar, maize, and beans, easing the burden of constantly seeking casual work and allowing me more time to work on my farm."

"I am currently a farmer growing crops on a two acre leased land in close proximity to Lake Baringo. Our area being classified under arid and semi-arid lands means drought is a regular phenomenon. Because of this, I do not do carryout rain-fed agriculture but rather irrigation farming. With inadequate capital to buy a water pump, I mostly borrow from fellow farmers own one. But because of competition, I sometimes fail to get one and during those times, I am forced to manually water the crops. This is a tiresome exercise and I am hoping that one day, I can own one."

"When I receive my transfers, I am eager to invest in fencing my 1/8 acre plot for kitchen gardening. Since I already rear goats, obtaining manure will not be an issue, as I plan to utilize their droppings for fertilizer. I will spend $130 for this purpose, alongside $300 for a water tank to store irrigation water. Additionally, I intend to spend $400 on expanding my poultry house, as I am keen on scaling up poultry farming. It is gratifying to contribute to our household income, supporting my husband, who serves as an administrative police officer. This investment aligns with our goal of securing our financial future through diversified farming activities as well as improving the food security for the family of seven."

"Subsistence farming has been the backbone of our local economy, and my aspiration has always been to reduce our dependence on purchased food by growing enough to sustain my family of six. With the unwavering support of my husband, I plan to lease an additional two acres of land along the nearby water sources, which will enable us to implement irrigation methods during dry spells. By combining these acreages with our existing piece, I aim to enhance our farming operations, producing enough food for both consumption and surplus for sale. Alongside the support from GiveDirectly's remaining transfers, I hope to generate income from the surplus yield of our current acre. These efforts are all geared towards securing a steady source of income to ensure timely payment of all my children's school fees."

"Before, I used to make charcoal production for a living, but it was tough. The logs were limited, poor roads hindered market accessibility and later it was banned which pushed me to casual jobs. My wife, on her part, ran a small hair salon. But because we couldn't afford many products or equipment, she could only make about $5 a day. With me making just $3 from the casual jobs. It was hardly enough to support our two daughters, aged 10 and 5. Life took a positive turn when I received my final transfer. We invested $150 in cosmetic products and a blow-drying machine. This small turned the salon around. My wife's earnings rose from $5 to $25 a day. What a change! To address the food problem, I spent $90 to get two bags of maize, and to ensure future sustainability I utilized $60 on land preparation (Furrow and Plow) planning to plant maize and use furrow irrigation to mitigate challenges that might occur due to common short rains in the area. Aiming to sell the surplus harvests and address other family needs like school fees. Additionally, I spent $100 to build our toilet. Before we had to go out to the bush, which was embarrassing and unsanitary, especially during rains. I began constructing our toilet. pending the roof and door. Finally, I couldn't forget about my daughters. Their uniforms were worn out, so I used $10 to buy new ones for both. With what was left, we all got new clothes. Thanks to GiveDirectly, our lives have taken a turn for the better."

"Once, I got $450 from GiveDirectly. It made me really happy. I knew exactly what to do with it. First thing, I used $230 to build a toilet. It was important for my family's health. We're a small family, just me and my kid. Now, we don't have to worry about sanitation anymore. Then, I took $150 to pay off some school fees. I needed my KCSE certificate. It opens up doors for me. With it, I can grab opportunities when they come my way. Next, I spent $45 on a gate. It's for safety. We're farmers, and we store our produce here. The gate keeps our belongings safe. I didn't forget about the farm. I used $10 to buy fuel. It helps me irrigate the maize. Good irrigation means good crops. Finally, I set aside $15 for food. It came at just the right time. We were facing a food crisis. Now, we can eat without worrying. That's how I used the money from GiveDirectly. It changed things for us. We're healthier, safer, and more secure."

"In the coming years and beyond, my focus is on enhancing the productivity of my farm. Last year, I faced setbacks with my two-acre plantation due to a poor harvest caused by prolonged dry weather, which reduced the water supply from the river we rely on for irrigation. To mitigate this, I plan to invest in a generator for pumping water and hire workers to help me properly align the water system. With this improvement, I am confident that my maize crops will receive adequate water, leading to increased yields and income from their sale. This will alleviate the financial burden on my children, who also have their families to support."