"I'm looking forward to completing the fencing around my land as I wait for the rainy season to begin. I plan to start farming crops, specifically maize and beans, which will help ensure I have enough food. In our area, we lack a water source for irrigation, so I intend to do timely planting. By preparing early and gathering all the necessary resources before the rains. I've already started enriching my farm's soil by applying manure from my goats. This natural fertilizer will make the land more fertile and nutrient-rich, which should help my crops grow better. It also means I can save money by not having to buy commercial fertilizers during the planting season."

"At the moment, being a teacher on a contract basis has not been beneficial enough to support my family of 3. My wife has not established a reliable job and this means, she majorly depends on me. My plan was to have a food kiosk in Kilifi that will be operated by my wife. This will be our additional source of income to solve the financial constraints in my household. To ensure this comes to a reality, I intend to spend $300 of my transfers on this business. On the other hand, I will also invest in agriculture, where I plan to do irrigation to produce maize and vegetables. This will be an extra source of income and I believe it will settle the food insecurity and other problems. On this project, I will use utmost $400 to make it to fruition. The remaining amount will help me to buy a second hand motorbike that will facilitate me as a means of transport to check the progress of my projects. Hence, this is generally what receiving this money means to me."

"I am a retired civil servant and I currently depends on farming for survival. I have the passion to do agribusiness but due to the drought in our area it is impossible. However,I have decided to go to irrigation along the Galana river but the only challenge is funds. I will use $300 to lease one acre and buy farm inputs to do irrigation at Galana river. The produce will be for consumption and for business. I intend to make approximately $50 per month as profit. I will also use $240 to buy three goats as an investment. This is also away of get sustainable income for the family."

"My family has been struggling with food for the past four years. However last year I started doing irrigation along the Galana river and since then I have had enough food for the family and even sell some to the community. Food brought happiness in my life."

"From my second transfer from GiveDirectly, I allocated $100 towards paying the school fees for my two children, reducing their arrears by $50 each. We have two children in elementary school level and one in secondary school. My wife and I engage in crop production to sustain our family. Additionally, we operate a posho mill business. I invested in 5 bags of maize costing $150, to further boost this business. It has proven to be a valuable supplement to our crop production, which can be unreliable due to occasional water shortages. Although we rely on irrigation, the nearby river is seasonal. However, I ensure timely planting to minimize losses and sometimes relocate my farming activities to a location near a permanent river, where I rent land. Our primary crops are maize and beans. Unfortunately, the lack of a storage facility has been a challenge, forcing us to sell our produce immediately, often at minimal profit margins. This situation also limited our ability to reserve food for future use, as improper storage could lead to spoilage. I spent $200 from the transfer, with some building materials I had previously purchased to construct a store. The store is now complete. It will enable us to store our farm produce, keep some for our consumption, and sell the surplus when market prices are more favorable. For instance, a 90kg sack of maize can sell for up to $50 during the off-season, compared to $30 or less during peak season. I am grateful to GiveDirectly."

"Receiving my second transfer, my mind couldn't focus on anything but fulfilling my desire to own a dairy cow. We already have two Boran breed cows at home, but their milk production is low. From both cows combined, we only get a total of 3 liters per day during the calving stage, which isn't much. We mainly use it for consumption within our household. I desired to have a cow with high milk production so that I could sell the surplus and earn extra income. I purchased a dairy cow for $500, contributing $50 of my own money alongside the $450 I received from GiveDirectly. This cow has promising milk potential; currently, I'm getting 2 liters of milk a day, and it's almost drying up, indicating that during calving, I will likely get even more milk. I plan to sell this milk to support my husband in providing for our family's needs. This way, we won't have to solely rely on his income. We have six children ( two girls and four boys). I am a farmer, while my husband is a primary school teacher. On our three-acre farm, I cultivate maize and vegetables. However, Sometimes, production is lower than expected, and it can be costly, especially with the expenses of using a generator for irrigation. In addition, there are times when the river dries up, resulting in poor harvests. Having the dairy cow will provide us with a diverse income source. If one source fails, we will have another to fall back on. Thank you GiveDirectly for enabling me to fulfil my desire."

"Upon receiving my transfers, I strategically allocated the funds to address various needs and invest in our family's future. This included $50 for my orphaned nephew's school fees, $30 for my own medication, $10 for my brother's medication, and $10 for my children's medication to ensure our health and well-being. Recognizing the importance of generating income, I invested $100 in purchasing three goats, which will serve as a sustainable source of income for my family. Furthermore, I allocated $110 towards purchasing watermelon seeds, $50 for land cultivation, $37 for casual labor, $35 for gasoline for irrigation, and the remaining funds for herbicides to support our agricultural endeavors. As a family of four relying on daily earnings from casual jobs like weeding for our $3 daily income, the transfers have been instrumental in uplifting our financial status. I am truly grateful for the support, which has enabled us to address immediate needs while also laying the foundation for long-term stability and prosperity."

"In the upcoming year, my goal is to lease a 4-acre piece of land along Lake Baringo. I intend to sow maize on this land, not only to generate income but also to provide food security for my family of eleven. The advantage of this location is that I can utilize irrigation methods to ensure consistent crop growth, despite the challenges posed by adverse climatic changes. To kickstart this venture, I estimate that I will need a capital investment of $2000. I plan to allocate the profits from our current farming activities towards this new endeavor. By reinvesting in our agricultural efforts, I aim to create a sustainable source of income and food production for my family. Leasing this land presents an opportunity for expansion and diversification, which is crucial for our long-term financial stability. I am optimistic about the potential of this new venture and remain committed to maximizing its success for the benefit of my family."

"My wife and I rely on crop farming and livestock keeping as our main source of income. We practice our crop farming on an acre piece of land , focusing mainly on contract farming under the Kenya Seed Company. This company provides certified maize seeds and offers financial support for land preparation as a loan. Planting and crop management is on us. We frequently experience severe droughts, forcing us to rely on crop irrigation. During extreme droughts, the rivers dry up, leading to poor crop. When the harvest fails, the contracting company expects us to pay the loan back within a period of one year. If we fail, they auction our assets, making it difficult to meet our needs including better housing. I used the last $450 transfer to construct a two-room house with an iron sheet roof because my current one-room muddy house was too small, forcing my wife, our four children, and me to share a single room. The limited space meant we had to cook outside, which became particularly challenging during the rainy season. When we had visitors, we were compelled to ask our neighbors for additional space for them to spend the night. Although the new house is nearly complete, I have yet to install the doors and windows, primarily due to financial constraints. The money from the third transfer was insufficient, but I plan to finish the house as soon as I secure the funds. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for their financial support, which has significantly changed our lives."

"Since we depend mostly on irrigation farming as the main source of livelihood, we intend to invest 60% of our transfers on our farm. Water has been the biggest challenge during prolonged dry season as we have had to hire a water pump on such occasion. This has proven to be very expensive for us. As such, we intend to buy a water pump at a cost of $400, increase acreage by clearing the extended part of the land at a cost of $50 and the remainder, to buy farm inputs. We project that by doing this, our proceeds will double hence increasing our profits."