GDLive Newsfeed
We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time. Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
Miriam's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Miriam enrolled.
"For the last two years to the present I have been buying 1 litre of milk costing KES 60. I consider it a challenge because my husband's daily income from motorbike taxi sometimes fails to cater for all daily needs. Owning a dairy cow will bring me joy and cut the daily household's expenses." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)
Paul's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Paul enrolled.
"At the moment we do not have a steady source of income. We are just peasant farmers, farming for subsistence use. I have been having a dream of starting a motorcycle spares business. I believe it will earn me enough income to meet our daily needs like food, shelter, and clothing for my family. I plan to use KES 50,000 as capital for this. For the remaining amount, I will pay school fees for my three children in school."
Dama's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Dama received a $481 initial payment.
"My spouse was the sole breadwinner, but he did not have a reliable source of income. He relied on people's motorbikes for a few hours a day and whenever he was not lucky to get one we would go without any food. This made life tricky because meeting a family's needs was a real challenge. At the time when the first transfer was sent, we had totally nothing in the house. We had resolved to sleep hungry on that day. We, therefore, spent KES 5000 on enough foodstuffs that we could feed on for a month. KES 30000 we spent on a motorcycle. He now has a reliable source of income. We cannot go for a day without food and even have some for saving. KES 7000 I spent on a mattress and some of our clothing. We did not have a mattress instead we slept on rags because our income could not afford a new decent mattress. Since I did not have any source of income, I spent KES 12500 on a new business where I sell fast food. We are now more stable financially." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)
James's family
access_time over 2 years ago
James received a $481 initial payment.
"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have been able to build a more spacious house for my family and purchased four goats that are live assets to me. Because of this, I feel happy that we will be enjoying our privacy as a family once this house is completed. In addition, I can always sell some of the goats when faced with an emergency before requesting help from other people in the village through organizing a fundraising event." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)
Stanley's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Stanley received a $481 initial payment.
"I am living a happy life since I have been able to acquire a motorcycle that is still in good condition and even cement my house. With this, I will be able to concentrate on paying school fees for my children especially now that two of them will be joining secondary school level in the month of April. I would not have been able to achieve all this within a short time if GiveDirectly had not decided to give us financial aid." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)
Leonard's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Leonard received a $481 initial payment.
"It was in the evening and I was at the stage hoping that I would get a client since I use a motorcycle to offer taxi services in the neighborhood when I heard some people whispering claiming that GiveDirectly had started sending out the promised transfer. It was at this time that I heard a peep sound on my phone and I quickly fished out to check its contents. I became so happy when I saw the Mpesa message and I immediately called and shared the good news with my spouse. With this money in my account, I knew that I would be able to solve some of my problems." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)
Sophia's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Sophia enrolled.
"Providing the basic needs is currently my biggest problem. This is because of limited sources of income. My roof is rusty and part of it has been blown away by the wind. We often skip meals. I have no source of income and my spouse is a motorcycle taxi rider earning very little because the population here at home is sparse and many youths are motorcycle riders."
Baraka's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Baraka enrolled.
"I am a motorcycle taxi rider. This source of income has a lot of challenges. First of all, I bought my motorcycle on credit and I am still repaying the loan. Every week I am required to pay 2,600 KES. In a week I get around 3,500 KES. The remaining amount which is my profit is not enough to sustain all my needs. I have a wife and 1 child." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)
Karisa's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Karisa enrolled.
"Finances are limited at the moment. The cost of living has risen especially with the hike in fuel prices. I am a motorcycle taxi driver and this has hit my industry hard. A couple of months back I would make a profit of 1000 KES, today 500 KES is a challenge. These days I sleep on an empty stomach at least thrice a week. This situation has demoralized my efforts to work but I encourage myself that better days are ahead." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)
Rajab's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Rajab enrolled.
"Stability comes to mind when I think about this money. I am a motorcycle taxi driver, this is my fifth year in this industry. I recently bought a motorcycle on hire purchase which I pay 1550 KES weekly. On a good day, I make a profit of 500 KES, if I compare, the good days are less. This is a challenge since I have a young family of three and my responsibilities have increased. I have been toiling to provide for them and still pay off the motorcycle owners. Receiving this money lessens the pressure. I plan to start a poultry business which will on the side help meet some basic needs, buy food and help raise my two children as I focus on paying off the motorcycle." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)
motorcycle