"I was cooking porridge for my grandchildren with the handful of maize flour that was remaining. My grandchild came running towards me, shouting that I had received a text message. Upon checking, I realized I had received my first transfer. Wow! I jumped up and down in ecstasy and forget that I had placed a boiling pot of hot water on the fire. I quickly requested him to go withdraw the money and buy maize flour so that we could eat a heavy meal of Ugali."

"Prolonged drought in our region has affected farming which is my main economic activity. I can no longer sustain my family, as there is no source of food, especially in the market, and food prices have gone so high, we are forced to travel long distances to get water which is also unclean, and this is a risk to our health. Our livestock are dying, so we are forced to sell at a throw away price, and end up getting losses."

"There has been a great difference in my life ever since I started receiving these funds from give directly. I was able to restock my house with some food. I also plan on supporting my idea of improving my house from thatch to an iron sheet roof. My husband, who is also a builder, recently built it. He started with a single-roomed structure then he later added a room. Now I want to enhance it so it could be more comfortable for my family in all seasons. This, I will, using the profits I will be making from the poultry farming business that I started using the money I got. I also plan on purchasing a water tank that will help, especially during droughts."

"When I withdrew the money the first thing I had planned to do was to get a motorbike to start a business with so as to have a source of income. Basing on that, I bought a motorbike on hire purchase by paying a deposit of KES 30000.00. This motorbike is an income-generating tool hence paying the installments using the income it produces. I also bought some clothes for my children worthy KES 3000.00. This season, being a drought season, I opted to save the remaining amount for the family upkeep since getting food and water was the biggest challenge we were facing as a family."

"Towards the end of last year, we experienced an intense drought, hence our livestock could hardly get feed and water. As soon as the dry spell began, I decided to sell 15 out of the 20 cows I had at a lower price than the prevailing market price. Income from cattle sales helped me to acquire a new motorcycle which I bought on credit. By the end of March 2022, I had an outstanding debt of KES 10,000. When I received the transfer, I spent KES 2000 on paying part of that debt. I am glad that from the bodaboda business, I have been able to generate up to KES 500 per day. Thus I nowadays find it easy to support my family in buying food, clothes and paying school fees for my children."

"Receiving this money means a decent life for my family because we will for the first time be able to sleep on a bed and a mattress. We have been sleeping on sacks as beddings for over a decade now. Every morning I wake up, I always experience rib pains and this is unhealthy. My plan is to use KES 40,000 from the GiveDirectly transfers to buy three beds and three mattresses for my family. This will be enough for all of us and for the first time we will be able to enjoy our sleep. My son who will be joining secondary school soon is also in the plan for I will spend KES 30,000 to pay his school fees. The remainder will support my family in buying food, soap and water."

"I was exhausted and starving after fasting the whole day. When my husband came back and told me he had no money to buy food, I was heartbroken and tears rolled down my cheeks. I drank a jug full of water to fill my stomach and ease the situation. I head straight to the bedroom, where I took a nap. At around 10 pm, my husband woke me up, giving me the good news that I had received my first transfer. I felt relieved and thrilled. I knelt down and prayed as thanked the almighty God for the miracle."

"I spent half of the money from my transfer to start a small business selling “Omena”. Before starting the business, I worked as a casual laborer selling charcoal. Making the charcoal is very long and tedious however, the income I earn is little. My husband earns a living by selling building poles. Since the emergence of the drought, his business is on a decline due to the scarcity of trees. The lack of a stable source of income is a challenge in providing the essential needs (food, clothing, and school fees) for my family (husband and 6 children). Starting this business will provide an alternative source of income and therefore ensure that I can help my struggling husband pay the bills. Besides starting the business, I spent the remaining amount of KES 1500 in buying food for my family. This was to prevent them from starving after spending two days without eating and surviving on water and wild fruits."

"I am an 82 years old widow. I can no longer walk because my legs are no longer strong. For me to move, I only crawl. This has rendered me a full dependant on my children. I can neither fetch water nor cook for myself."

"I am a motorist who depends on carrying passengers in the village using a motorbike. Besides I have a family of five( three children, my mother and spouse). On a good day, I take home KES 300. This money is not enough to take care of our basic needs.(Food, water, education and shelter) my children and I sleep in the same single roomed house which leaks during rainy season. This forces us to seek shelter from my mother's house which is a taboo according to our African culture. This has lowered my dignity as man but due to lack of enough money my dream of building a better house has remained to be a wish. Upon receiving the cash transfers, I will use KES 50000 to build two bedroom mud walled house. I will then use the remaining amount to invest in livestock farming. Receiving this money therefore means restoring dignity and safety of my family."