"Drought experienced in my area is beyond measure. Sometimes I am forced to walk for long distances to fetch water for domestic consumption. Sometimes I am tired but left with no option because I can not afford buying water from the motorcycle guys given that they sell one 20Litre jerrican at KES 100."

"I was on a motorcycle returning home from a business errand that bright morning. And at exactly 7.53 am that's when my phone started vibrating in my hand. Because I was using my phone for business I thought it was a business deal, I, therefore, requested the motorcycle rider to stop for a while. On checking, lo and behold, I had received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with joy and kept to myself because the motorcycle rider was a stranger."

"It will be a big economic jumpstart for me when I get this money. I used to be a motorcycle taxi rider in the village with a bike I took on loan. It was all working until it got to a particular point I couldn't get enough customers to keep up with repayment of instalments. The trading company eventually reclaimed it four years ago and I was jobless again. I have struggled to find some well paying jobs around here without any success. For now I feel bad about being left behind that I just want to spend these transfer on building a house for myself so that I do not get to sleep at other people's. After that I would buy some livestock to start a small venture that I plan to try."

"With a family of 7 children, sufficiently providing food for them is challenging due to the low income I get from the motorcycle taxi business. In a day, my income cannot exceed 400 KES. My family is very large translating to a higher food intake. To comfortably meet their daily food ration, I need at least 500 KES. Seeing my children go without a meal at their tender age leaves me so sad."

"Since I was born, we have been using Kerosene lamp for lighting at home and it's very expensive and dangerous at the same time because we live in a tiny grass thatched house which can easily catch fire. My siblings were also not able to study at night because the lighting was dim. I have always wanted to provide an alternative source of light which is cheap and solar was the best choice that I could go for since we live in a very hot climate zone. I work as a motorcycle rider to earn living and the commission of KES 200 that I was earning daily couldn't manage to buy solar as I was also assisting my mother who is a window with family responsibilities. I spend KES 2500 of my first transfer to buy a solar lamp and KES 500 to buy food. We usually charge the lamp during the day and it's capable of providing light the whole night and charge our phones. I can now save the money that I used to buy kerosene towards my siblings school fees." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"I am married with four children and my husband works as a motorcycle rider.when I received my cash transfer I used KES 500 to buy food because our household ran out of food the previous day.I decided to save the rest of the KES 700 to start a chicken business.My family has been struggling because my husband took the motorcycle on hire purchase, every day there is a minimum of KES 400 expected to be paid to reduce his actual balance and yet on his good day he only makes KES 600.Financial challenges due to this situation have had my whole family adapt to new lifestyle that is substandard."

"Receiving this money is a great blessing to me. I have faced so many challenges in life. I lost my parents almost 15 years ago and our lives turn for the worse. As if that is not enough bad luck would strike again sometime in 2019 when I was involved in a motorcycle accident that rendered me indisposed and bedridden for 5 months. I broke my bolt joint which has rendered me incapacitated. So bad is the situation that my first wife left me alone. It was the most devastating time that I even contemplated suicide because I did not see the essence of living again. I still limp because I did not get the right medication since I could not afford the KES 40000 to do the surgery at Longisa Hospital. It is for this reason that I intend to use this money to seek medication and resume back to normal life. I will use the remaining amount to buy a second-hand power saw."

"No employment,I am a certified wiring technician but I have not been able to secure any form of employment. I am compelled to work as a motorcycle driver so that I can provide for my family. In a good day I earn 400 KES which helps address the necessities of my family. I wish I had a stable income so that I would raise my family with some ease." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"Money, money, money is my main challenge. Money for food, buying clothes is a problem. I am still nursing my young baby and have not been able to secure any form of employment. My husband was previously employed but had to stop because of health issues. He now has to operate as a motorcycle driver but in shifts, some days are good others not so good since he can come back home with no income. As a result we tend to survive on one meal a day which is stressful since I am still nursing my son."

"I am a tailor by profession and I am employed in a tailoring shop in my nearby town. My husband is a motorcycle operator Carry bugs of charcoal from my home town to another town for a pay. We are living a very difficult life. The household revenues isnt enough to cater for all our domestic needs plus having little savings to allow me buy my own sewing machine. Receiving this money will mark the start of having my own tailoring shop . I will buy two sewing machines, open a tailoring shop and hiring an extra tailor to maximize my productivity hence make more money. I am excellent in designing many fashions for ladies wear and I believe I will flourish in life." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)