"I have been an orphan for the last three years. Before I was enrolled in this program, I was living at my uncles place since I never had any other place to be in. Immediately I received the transfers I built a house for kshs 30,000 . I am so happy and grateful to GiveDirectly as I have a place to call home now. I used kshs 21,000 to buy a water tank for storage to be used during drought."

"As the sole breadwinner of my family of seven individuals, I rely on charcoal burning for a living. The process of producing charcoal takes almost two weeks as am required to cut tree stumps before burning them to the end product. Also, due to the physical demands of the practice, the much I can make over that time are only three sacks of charcoal which generate around $10 in total once sold. Considering the high commodity prices, this amount can only afford food to last the household for only a week. This leaves us struggling with only a meal per day or no meal at all for the other week. By the time I received the transfer, we had starved for two consecutive days. So, I used $15 to buy food and we have not lacked to date. Since water has become very scarce in my area due to drought, I spent $4 to buy and ferry some on a motorcycle from a neighboring village. I saved the rest of the money intending to buy a goat next month."

"I spent the previous three transfers purely on food. Hunger was a major issue in my household, we used to starve for two consecutive days because there was no money to buy food. Being the family's breadwinner, I retired from my hustle of burning charcoal at the prospect of receiving regular cash transfers from Give Directly. The transfers became my only source of income and the food I bought always lasted us up to the last four days before the next transfer. At that point, it was easy to convince the shopkeeper to give me foodstuff on credit as I awaited cash from Give Directly. Since the hunger problem is now gradually lessening, my next mission is to build a new two-room tin roof and mud-walled house for my wife and me. Our current structure is in a very poor condition that you would not easily tie it to a human dwelling. The grass-thatched roof was infested by insects, which left perforations that let it water when it rains. Also, we use the same one-room space for both cooking and sleeping. To build the new house, I need around 30 pieces of iron sheets. So, I saved the most recent transfer to start purchasing the roofing materials."

"I have three acres of land and with the drought, I cannot cultivate because of a lack of enough water for the crops. I am hoping that the drought season will end soon, Prepare my piece of land and cultivate kale, spinach, and maize, and Open a grocery business that will help me generate more income to help my family."

"I am trying to rebuild my house that I am living in. The house I am living in has leakage all over the roof, and when the rain fall my house can be full with water, that's why when I received givedirectly money I decided to improved my old house and the leaking roof. Many thanks to givedirectly for their support. I also paid my children school fees."

"I was overjoyed when I first received a message from GiveDirectly confirming the receipt of the first transfer. I received a message notification around 4:00 p.m., and I was on my way to the river to get water at the time. When I saw the exact amount that I was promised during registration, I knew it had to be from GiveDirectly. When I returned home, I informed my father, who had received his transfer a few minutes earlier, and he was also able to confirm the message. I was unable to withdraw the money right away and had to wait two days before collecting the entire transfer from a nearby shopping center."

"Previously, I was living in a single room which could not accommodate both of us( parents) and our children something which made us to make the kitchen a bedroom for our children. It was a very risky environment for them because fire would easily break out burning the house thus also burning them and therefore, I would pour water on the fireplace where we used to prepare our meals everyday before going to bed. We could not afford to build a bigger house to accommodate all of us due to financial incapability as I am a peasant farmer and my husband who is the bread winner earns an average of $3 per day from operating a motorbike taxi. Being enrolled in the program was a great opportunity for us to build a big and better house. The first transfer of $550 enabled us to build a two bedroom structure and we were able to put up a roof with $350 of my second transfer. I spend $10 of the balance to buy two goats and the remaining to buy food for my family."

"Keeping Friesian cows especially during this dry season when they need a lot of water has not been profitable as I have been spending much of the profit to buy water. To keep the business profitable and for it to thrive well, I needed to buy water tanks to harvest enough water during the rainy season to keep up with the dry season. Since I was not able to raise enough capital towards the same on my own, being enrolled in the program was a good opportunity for me. I save part of my first transfer and added to my second transfers and I was able to buy two 5,000 litres water tanks worth $350 each. I am so happy that it's already a rainy season and all these tanks have been filled by rain water and I will be able to save the money that I was using to buy water towards some other projects. I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for the support."

"During drought seasons, I usually walk for kilometres in search of water only to come home with a 20 litres jerrican. Its usually not easy during these seasons as we have to go for some days without taking shower to save water for cooking and drinking. My biggest desire has been to buy a water tank so that I can harvest water during rainy seasons but this has not been possible as I am just a house wife and we all depend on my husband who engages in business of buying and selling livestock to earn living. When I received my second transfer, I spend $200 to buy 3000 litres water tank and $5 for installation. I spend the balance to pay a debt that I had of $5 and the balance to buy food. I'm grateful that neither my children and I will no longer have to walk for long distance during dry season to look for water."

"I formerly owned a roadside food stand, but it was unsuccessful due to the costs I had to pay, particularly for water. Water is scarce as a result of the present drought, and getting it for the business proved expensive. As a result, I was unable to sustain the business and had to shut it down. When I got my third transfer, I opened a kiosk and started selling various food and some stationery. I have been replenishing it ever since with the transfers from the previous three months. Although the business has really not grown, I'm nevertheless happy to have made some money from it. My mother and I are still together after my father passed away over a year ago. Due to her advanced age, my mother is unable to work, leaving me as the family's main provider. My three siblings are at school, and I have been paying for their education with the money I make from the business. We appreciate the support and are grateful that the money arrived just when we needed it."