"After a prolonged drought of three years, we finally experienced some light rains a month ago. I immediately started working on the farm because I was so excited about it. I've been compelled to pay exorbitant prices for food from the shops for the past three years. Due to a lack of funds to purchase food, I occasionally went to bed hungry. When I got my transfer, I used a sizable portion of about $20 to get the farm ready for planting. To prepare the farm I had to cut down the dense bushes, dig up the soil that had become hard, and plant the seeds. After losing my only source of income due to the effects of the drought, I was eager to start working on the farm again. Unfortunately, after two weeks, the rains stop, and the crops I planted all withered from a lack of water. I could do nothing but watch as my considerable investment in cultivating the crops was wasted. In addition to using the money to till my two acres of land, I also had to spend $5 on medicine because I got sick. I purchased food, particularly fruits, to strengthen my immunity after getting better from my illness with the $5 that was left over."

"I rely heavily on my son, who raises livestock for a living. His job has been negatively impacted by the drought. The effects of the drought caused 40 of the animals he did care for to perish. Because there aren't many livestock left to take care of, he only makes $1.5 per day. I bought a lot of food (three packets of 2 kg maize flour, 1 kg of beans, 1 kg of sugar, vegetables, and fruits) when I got the transfer so I wouldn't have to rely so heavily on my son, who was finding it difficult to feed me. I used up the last bit of maize flour by cooking a tiny piece of ugali two days before getting my transfer. I made do with drinking water and a few wild fruits until I got my second transfer, at which point I was able to buy food because I had no money left.In addition to purchasing food, I spent $20 on a goat. Once the goats have multiplied, I intend to sell them and purchase a dairy cow. I'll get some money by selling milk that the cow produces."

"I come from the western part of Kenya but married in the village of Kanyalani. I recently got a baby and drought has affected majorly this place. My husband is currently unemployed and with two children. I cannot look for a job. When I got enrolled in the support program, I joined a savings group to save part of my transfers, but as the year ends, drought and hunger affected the whole village and the savings plan had to be stopped. All our transfers were used to buy water and food. People would walk for over four hours in search of water. As soon as I received my cash transfer, $10 was spent on water and the rest $20 on food because my husband was unemployed and working as a charcoal burner."

"I joined a merry-go-round group that we started in our village and I have been saving $10 per month. My plan is to continue saving money to be able to start a goat-rearing project in the future. I have always wanted to start this but I did not have the money. Goats multiply faster since they reproduce twice per year. I spent $10 on purchasing food and water. Due to prolonged drought in the area, we purchase water for drinking and domestic use. The remaining amount of the money I spent on purchasing clothes and household items that we were missing. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has supported us in meeting all our basic needs."

"I spent $28 on purchasing food and other basic household items for my family. Due to the prolonged drought in our area, we have not been in a position to plant any crops. We depend majorly on casual jobs to earn some money to meet our basic needs. When I received the money my family had enough to eat and we are so grateful for the support because were it not GiveDirectly we would have missed getting food. The remaining $2 I spent on purchasing water for domestic use. I am so happy for the support from GiveDirectly because it has enabled me to get the basic needs on time."

"With the hard economic times that we are currently facing, it's been a challenge for me to buy adequate food for my family. I am a subsistence farmer and in a good season, I could harvest enough for my family. However, we have been hit hard by drought which has made it impossible to do farming. We have to buy food, water, and other basic needs unlike before when we had them in abundance. Thus, the transfer has greatly helped me to buy enough foodstuffs for my household and other needs such as water. In addition, I also own two chickens which I am rearing. My plan is to make an investment out of these chickens and later sell them to cater for my financial needs."

"My main source of livelihood has been burning and selling charcoal for years. The earnings from it were however not enough to take care of my family's basic needs like food and water, which I have to buy every day. My living house also required an immediate renovation since its roof is old and dilapidated. I was not able to meet the cost of buying new iron sheets to replace the roof. Getting the support helped me take care of my immediate needs like food and fees for my children using the first transfer. I am happy that my children were allowed to continue with their studies without interruptions on fees. I am also grateful because I am now able to save some money every month to buy the iron sheets I need. My goal is to buy a total of 22 pieces and to start with, I purchased 3 pieces using the second transfer."

"My ambition was to repair my shelter which was about to collapse. It is made up of mud walls and poles that are old had rotten. I use $30 to purchase some of the building materials and at the moment I have been able to repair one side of my structure. In addition, I used $35 to acquire sufficient food and water for the family of 7 members due to the on going famine in our area. Similarly, I used $25 to support the education of my six children who are still in primary because they had fee arrears. They were frequently sent home something that bothered me a lot. At present, seeing them learning and attending school frequently has restored my peace of mind."

"I am grateful because it helps a lot with my family, I can save and pay other bills such as food and water. Having someone that gives you money monthly and you have not worked for it is such a blessing."

"Before the Covid 19 pandemic, I was employed in Taita Taveta at a mining site getting a pay of $90 a month. This money would help me pay for food and pay school fees for my family. When Covid 19 was declared a pandemic, I was laid off and since then I have been at home. With the savings I had accumulated from my previous job, I started a business selling chicken in an open market every week. I buy one at $3 hen rear it for a period and sell it for 500. The profit from the business would help in settling house bills. I have seven children, three are toddlers who have not yet started school and four are in a government school. I pay $31 a term for all the children which have been a challenge before but receiving this money has enabled me to pay school fees without strain as I take care of other bills such as food and water."