"Upon withdrawing the money, I bought some iron sheets and other construction materials with an aim of building a new spacious house since the one I had was very small to accommodate my family comfortably. I also bought 2 goats so as to start a livestock rearing journey. I could have bought more goats but the climate was not favorable by then. Since it was a drought season, I used the remaining amount in buying some food and water."

"At the time when I received the transfer, we were at a water crisis season. Our area was so dry and we used to travel longer distances to access water points at a cost of KES 50.00 per 20 liter bucket. Having that challenge, I decided buy a motorbike to aid me in fetching water as well as doing some business fetching some water to willing people at a price. Apart from fetching water, the motorbike is also used in ferrying people and small luggage from one place to another at a fee too thus becoming a source of income."

"Receiving this money means access to clean water. I am old and no longer have the strength to go to the river to fetch water. My grandchildren have been helping me but sometimes it's challenging when the school opens. I have wished to buy a water tank so that I can collect water from my house to help me become independent and access clean water for drinking. This tank will cost around KES 30000. My house also tends to be cold during the night due to incomplete finishing. This has been worrying since I am at risk of contracting pneumonia in regards to my age with reduced immunity. So I will spend KES 50000 to complete it."

"I spent part of my first transfer on buying building materials such as twenty pieces of iron sheets at KES 20000, building poles, nails, and timber at KES 10000, and the labor charge of KES 5000. I was planning to construct a new house since the previous one had some old roofing sheets. It was hectic and stressful whenever it rained since water could seep through and we would be forced to stand still till the rains stop. In addition, I bought three chickens at KES 1500 and two goats at KES 6000 and I am so glad that I now have living assets that I can rely on any time. Finally, with the remaining amount of money, I bought decent clothes for the Christmas celebrations and sufficient food for my family."

"Whole preparing breakfast at around 9am, I heard the message tone from my phone an asked my son to check for me since I do not know how to read. While checking he smiled and looked at me with a bright face and said, you have received the transfer of KES 55000.00 from GiveDirectly. I was filled with joy, I felt like some cold water has been poured on me at a time when I was sweating."

"Before the transfer was sent, I had already planned on how I was going to spent it on. Therefore, I first paid primary school fee arrears for my children which had accumulated since 2019. Thereafter, I bought a standard bed and a mattress because initially I was sleeping on a small poor bed. I also bought 3 sacks of maize for my family to ensure food security at home, a water tank and some basins because we used to take bath using some plastic jerricans that we cut them in a basin shape."

"The biggest difference I can testify is my health. If it were not for GiveDirectly I do not know where I would be right now, but thanks to the God brought organization which aided me to get medical attention through the transfer it made to me. The second thing is the water tank. This transfer came at a time when we were experiencing drought in our area. I used the tank to store water and this helped me and my family."

"I spent a huge part of my first transfer on paying school fees for my siblings who are in colleges and secondary schools respectively. Since I have been the family's breadwinner our parents passed on so many years ago and I had to step in for all the household expenses. It has never been an easy journey because I depended on odd jobs to cater to all their needs. In addition to that, I bought a mattress KES 5000 to replace the old one and for now, I am sleeping comfortably with no more pain. I also bought a water tank of 1000 liters which has been of help to me especially this rainy season, I was able to harvest and store water which is for my domestic use. Also with the remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family that would take us to the next harvesting season."

"I spend the two transfers mainly on water, school fees and food. The first transfer came in during drought season. I withdrew kshs 1150. I bought 6 Jerry cans of water at kshs 300. I have 3 school going children in grades 7, 6 and 4 respectively at Kimarani primary school. I used kshs 600 to pay for their school fees. I bought maize floor worth kshs 200 and used the remaining kshs 50 on vegetables. The second transfer of kshs 3,000 came on around Christmas. I paid school fees of kshs 1700 for my 3 children. I spent the rest on food; that is 2 packets of 2kg baking flour worth kshs 300, 2 litres of cooking oil at kshs 300, 2kg of sugar at kshs 200, 2 packets of 2kg maize flour worth kshs 300 and vegetables worth kshs 200. I'm a casual labourer. I depend on selling coconut and doing menial jobs like washing and digging for people to earn a living. Before I could never afforded such shopping for Christmas. We could even go hungry on 25th December but thanks to Give Directly, there was food in my house during the last Christmas season."

"I spent most of recent transfer on purchase of a dairy cow because there's scarcity of milk in my area hence high milk demand. I also bought a water pipe in order to make water easily accessible within my farm."