"Food insecurity is a challenge in my house. Getting food for the family means I have to do a white-collar activity like fetching water to a construction site, burning charcoal, or selling firewood to the nearby food canteen. I can bear all the issues because they have turned to be my life activities but lucking money to enable my son pursue his secondary school education is the biggest challenge I am passing through."

"It has taken more than one and a half an year without rainfall. Animals were dying due to lack of pasture and we have been suffering a lot as one had to move 3km a day to get water for domestic use. I felt so happy when the heavens clothed with dark clouds followed by heavy downpour which made grass sprout and at least gather water in the village basin. I can now enjoy taking bath as many times as I wish."

"It will be an opportunity to build my self a descent house, and a good cooking area for the family. Currently the house am living in is in pathetic condition, and its almost falling. Rains come as a blessing but to me it has messed my living conditions, i stay awake on most nights or wake up to sweep water out of my room and this makes me very frustrated. I plan to build a three roomed house, and a kitchen which will roughly cost 40,000 Ksh. The rest of the transfer i will use it to pay school fees for my two children one in primary school and one in secondary school."

"If there was ever a time I struggled financially it is now. I used to work for a water company but I was laid off in September 2021. Luckily I was able to buy a motorcycle on hire purchase and it was a solace to know I had an avenue where I would earn from. The downside is my finances are tighter than ever since I have to set aside 2000 KES every week for the motorcycle. The profit I make from my operations is 2000 KES, this is what I use to feed a family of 13, (two wives and eleven children), and pay school fees for nine of them. At the end of the day, I am left penniless."

"Lack of safe water for domestic use is a big challenge that many residents, including myself, are grappling with. This is caused by the frequent drought that we witness every other time. Members of my family have fallen sick several times because of drinking unsafe water. Two months ago, I spent KES 5000 in treating my wife and child from typhoid disease, and I am worried that if this situation is not checked it might recur among other members."

"Over the years, our village has been experiencing water scarcity. Imagine a woman walking for over ten kilometers every day just to get twenty litres of water. This is not enough for cooking leave alone drinking. Life has been very difficult for us. However, last month we received goods news from an organization that offered to bring tap water for us. As we speak, five taps have been installed and we nolonger walk for longer distances anymore. I can comfortably get water next to my house which is a big relief to me. This has been a source of joy and happiness to me and the entire village."

"Receiving this money means safety and dignity to my family of four children. I live in unfinished two bedroom mud walled house. However, due to inadequate funds, only one room is complete and can only accommodate my spouse and I. This forces our four children to seek shelter from our neighbors. It is sad and shameful to see my own children walk in the dark moving to the next household which is very dangerous especially during the rain season. I depend on casual jobs which are not reliable. In a good day, I take home KES 500 which is solely used for food and water. This has made it difficult to meet other basic needs. I will use the first cash transfer KES 50000 to finish my house and then spend the remaining amount on school fees for the children."

"I had been living in an incomplete house for a long period after running short of finances to make the final furnishing. The floors of my current house had been dusty and would always plaster them with fresh mud or frequently sprinkle water to settle the dust. On receiving the first transfer, it was the household decision to complete the plastering of the floors. I had to purchase gravel, sand, and 20 bags of cement each at KES 800, and also paid the labor charges of KES 10000 that worked on the completion. Even though the work consumed all the transfers I had received, I am glad that all the three rooms in my house are complete and easy to clean, and my esteem whenever a visitor visit is no longer low. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the generous support and looking forward to the second transfer that will help in constructing another new room to accommodate my whole family of seven and also other projects that I am set to establish."

"Lack of money to sustain my family is the biggest challenge I am facing presently. I do not have anything I can call a job and what I see is just misery and suffering. Sometimes I cannot even afford to buy basic commodities like sugar and water for my family."

"It was around 7a.m and had gone to fetch water from the river. When came back home I realized I had a message after I took my phone to make a call. Upon checking, it was an MPESA message from Givedirectly confirming a receipt of my first transfer. I was excited and planned on going to withdraw the funds the following day."