"Water shortage in our area has been the main challenge and I have desired to encounter this peril. The issue has been made worse by the prolonged drought. As a result, all water sources such as water pans and rivers where we draw water from are dry. Currently, we rely on which is 10% full and it may not last for the next 3 months if it does not rain soon. We share the water with livestock and in most cases, my family members complain of stomach disorders. To solve this problem, I plan to spend my first transfer to buy a storage water tank and connect gutters in order to harvest rainwater that I will use for drinking. The second transfer will help me to purchase 5-galla goats which cost around KES 30,000 to crossbreed my local ones. As they multiply, I will sell at a profit and use the proceeds to improve my living standard. The remaining amount will help me to clear school fees for my son who completed his secondary school education so that he can get his certificates."

"I had been struggling with bedbugs which invested my bed making it hard to sleep. I air out the beddings on daily basis including pouring boiling water on them but this has never helped. In the last month, my son brought an acaricide which I used in spraying the beddings and the walls and was able to eradicate all the parasites. I have enjoyed my sleep since then."

"Looking at how dilapidated my house is, my main objective is to build a new house for security and dignity purposes. Years ago, my house was razed down by a fire. I constructed a semi-permanent house that could shelter my 6 children, with the hope of building a new one after a few months. It is now 4 years and I have been unable to build a new one due to poverty. I work as a charcoal burner and what I earn, 2,000 KES a month, caters for the daily family necessities such as food, water, and health care. For those 4 years, life has been full of misery. I know no privacy because I share a room with 3 of my children. I intend to construct a 3 bedroom house that will approximately cost 40,000 KES. I will be a very happy soul once I start living in a house that guarantees security, privacy, and health."

"I used to depend on casual jobs like farming or fetching water for people to earn a living. These kinds of jobs are, however, becoming scarce because of the prolonged drought in the area which affected my income. The frustration that comes with it is beyond imagination. Therefore, my current challenge is lack of jobs to earn a living so that I can provide for my family."

"The biggest difference in my life is that I nolonger walk long distance to fetch water, this has been so hectic and tiresome. Buying water on a daily basis was quite expensive ,having a water tank has assisted my family as the money I used to buy water can now be spent on buying food."

"Our family land was subdivided 5 years ago but unfortunately we settled in a swampy area. Whenever it rains, we face a lot difficulty because water oozes into the house. For this reason, we have been aspiring to relocate to another land which is on a higher ground. We are glad that soon this will materialize through the transfer from Give Directly. We intent to spend the entire transfers to build and settle in a better place and live a comfortable life."

"I am a young parent of a 14 years old son, who did so well in his primary education class 2021. I used part of the transfers of about Kshs 30,000 to take him to a boarding school as this has been our dream as the parents. In our area, getting water is the greatest challenge,I spent about Kshs 10,000 to buy a water storage just incase it rains, I store some of it for future use and to avoid using any amount saved on buying water for daily use. Initially my house has been so dusty as it has never been plastered, I spent Kshs 7000 to buy few bags of cement to plaster both the floor and the wall, it now looks so neat till the neighbours are beginning to admire it from a distance. Before the transfers we could not afford to eat all the three meals,my family could skip both breakfast and lunch and afforded only supper, since I received the transfers I stocked food stuff and this has been so beneficial as I do not have to go to the shop every now and then, this saves alot of time. I thank Give Directly so much as we can now feed on regular and balanced diet."

"It was around 9 am, I had gone to the water pan to collect water for the family. I heard about the receipt of the transfer from the relatives who were narrating how they were lucky to receive the aid from GiveDirectly. Being illiterate, I handed over my phone to them to confirm my account balance. Upon checking, I was very happy when I was informed that I had received the transfer too. I was very sure that I would transform my living standards for the better."

"I was on my farm planting trees that are aimed at improving the forest coverage in our country an initiative by Komaza Kenya. I remember it was about 7:30 am when I received the M-Pesa message from Segovia technology. At first, I could not understand it and I had to confirm the account balance only to be surprised by seeing KES 55,000. I was very happy for receiving the transfer that would help me in solving the problem of water shortage in my family."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is the acquisition of the water tank and the purchase of land which has been my dream. I am grateful for this far and am looking forward to the second transfer."