"For the past four months of the year, life has become hard and unbearable for low-income earners. As a result, I have had some moments to go without food. Before the date of my April transfer, I did not have any food for my family. In addition, I could not buy additional food because I did not have money. My small business of selling ready food was none operational since I had closed it down in March when I was scheduled for a CS since I was expecting and sickling. After the surgery, I could not run the business anymore. The transfer, therefore, helped me in buying maize flour and water since I was in dire need of such essential commodities. Thanks to GiveDirectly for its generous support."

"GiveDirectly can help people who are poor with money, for them to send their children school and build house, so the poverty rate to reduce. GiveDirectly don't take food nor water or anything from people."

"I had gone to fetch water from my neighborhood and I heard my phone vibrate. Upon checking it was an MPESA message confirming a receipt of my first transfer from Give directly. I was super excited and celebrated with my family that morning since it was going to transform our household."

"I am grateful for the financial support that I received from GiveDirectly. In my opinion, giving us this support in monetary for was the best idea in that we had to make our decisions on spending. A lot has changed within the village as many managed to construct new houses that drastically reduced their frequent visits to the river in search of water since they can now collect the rainwater from their new roofs."

"Almost over a decade ago I was involved in road accident where I injured my spine. I received treatment and over the years I recovered from it. But just recently it seems the impact of the accident never really got cured because I have been going through so much and had to consult a doctor because movement and sitting became challenging. As soon as I received the funds, I visited the hospital and after some tests they offered medication and I ended up paying KES 1,800 for the medical assistance. I decided to use the rest of the transfers for issues related to nutrition because I could barely farm from the injuries I sustained.I bought five packets of maize flour for KES 750 and then used the balance which was KES 450 to buy drinking water which was delivered to me by a motorist."

"I decided to begin a business in poultry farming at the beginning of the year. I knew a business would help me make money almost on a daily and I would not always rely solely on the funds from GiveDirectly. I bought hens and waited until they had chicks then I sell them after words. Good thing the business picked very fast and has been doing well. Just last month I sold about a dozen hens. Soon after receiving this money I added it as capital used KES 2,000 to purchase four hens and add them with the ones I already owned. There after I took the balance and used KES 300 to purchase six gallons of drinking water since it was scarce in my area. I also bought two packets of maize flour for KES 300 and I am still left with KES 400 which I plan to use when need arises."

"We have been experiencing a prolonged dry season for the previous three years. As a result of this situation, local streams have dried up, making it difficult to access water in our locality. You must trek for three hours to obtain water. Furthermore, food costs have steadily risen, resulting in the famine that we are currently experiencing. So, when I got my transfer, I decided to use some of it to buy food and water, as these are necessities. As a result of my financial distress, I was unable to provide meals for my family of five. I just work on the farm, subsistence farming, which has been unsuccessful for the past three years due to insufficient rainfall."

"In my village, we have started a savings plan to help us achieve our development goals. So, when I got my transfer this month, I set aside KES 2000 to raise money to buy a 3000-liter water tank. There are multiple water scarcity issues in our community, a situation that hinders me from doing active poultry farming. With the water tank, I shall be able to harvest rainwater to address this issue. As a result, l will be able to provide adequate water for my livestock during dry seasons. This will spare me the trouble of having to walk a longer distance, about 3 hours. I am so hopeful that my livestock rearing venture will be more successful."

"I recently had a child, bringing the total number of children that I have to two. My firstborn is now 6 years of age but unfortunately, he is disabled and has yet to start school. I have been taking him for treatment and on a monthly basis, I use KES 1800 on transport expense. This has proven fruitful as he can now sit on his own. My husband, who is a charcoal manufacturer, only makes KES 1600 monthly. Before, I would boost our finances through the street food vending business. But now that I'm still on maternity, I have yet to heal from the c-section I had during childbirth. The financial constraint made it difficult to get food and water which has been scarce so when I got my transfer, I used it on this, especially in buying water which has been costly as 6 20-liter jerricans of water sell at KES 400."

"I used KES 2000 to reduce the KES 5500 school fee arrears for my four children, one of whom is in high school and the other three are in primary. I then used the remaining amount to purchase food and water. Due to the droughts, most of our streams have dried out and brought about water scarcity in the area. We are forced to buy a 20-liter jerrican of water goes for KES 40. Since I have a large family, I use about 6 jerricans on a daily basis, and it has been quite expensive to manage. As I am currently unemployed and I depend on my husband works at the construction site as a handyman. So, we try to cut costs and manage to live on the little he earns."