"I spent KES 20,000 my transfer to purchase 5 goats to start goats rearing a future investment whenever I face any financial challenge. In addition, I purchased household utensils including plates, cooking pots, and 2 plastic chairs. This is because I had a few utensils and I was using to logs as chairs which were embarrassing whenever I received guests. Also, I bought new clothing for myself this is because I was using worn-out ones. With the remaining amount, I spent it to purchase enough food and saved some for my daily upkeep like water."

"I spent part of my first transfer on buying a few building materials which uncle iron roofs at KES 6000, nails and timber, and the labor charge of KES 3000. This was for the renovation of the roof since it was so old and leaky, whenever it could rain it was so hectic. Also, I bought a second-hand bicycle at KES 6000 which has been helping in transporting water from the dam to my homestead which is quite far. I later bought a q water tank 210 liters KES 2300 which has been of great to me in storing water. I also bought five chickens and twelve goats at a total of 32500 which I am planning to start a business through them. This will now be the business that I will rely on all the time. I later cleared school fees of KES 450 for my son and bought new school uniforms for him. With the remaining amount, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family"

"I spent a larger portion of my first transfer on clearing school fees for my three children who are both in secondary school. I had to prioritize this because they are usually on and off due to school fees arrears. I also started a new business of selling second-hand clothes that I am now operating in town and at least I have a source of income that I can rely on because I have been jobless all along. With the remaining, I bought a water tank of 320 liters worthy of KES 3500 and enough foodstuffs for my family that could at least last us for a couple of days. I am so humbled that though GiveDirectly, I managed to fulfill my heart's desires."

"I spent KES 38,000 to purchase a second-hand motorbike for myself. I had a desire to own a motorbike which will help me to carry water for my family since I was spending KES 200 per day on water which was relatively expensive. Similarly, I was planning to use it for taxi business, transporting people from our area to the nearest town to earn a living. Currently, I am able to obtain an income of KES 400 per day which I am using on food. I also used KES 10, 000 to support the educational needs of my 3 children who are in secondary school. They had a huge fee balance but I had no money to clear. The remaining amount assisted me in purchasing enough foodstuffs for the family."

"Our area has no available and clean water because of the nature of our soil that does not favor water retention. We cannot dig boreholes, or if we dig, they cannot last, and therefore we are forced to fetch water from the nearby river. Receiving this money will enable me to buy a water tank that will enable me to harvest and store rainwater. This will reduce the trips that I make to fetch water and the water quality is far much better than the one that we fetch from the river. I plan on repairing my leaking kitchen roof with the money from the second transfer together with completing my main house."

"I had left early that morning to go fetch water from the nearest water source which was in the other village. I remember it was on a Thursday date 11th of the previous month. Went I got home I took the phone and as I was checking the time I saw I had received the money. I was so relieved and happy."

"I received the message at 9 am. I was from fetching water. I had walked for almost 40 kilometers in search of water. While I was resting in my house the phone rang loudly. I picked it up and checked it. Since I do not know how to read, I decide to wait for my son who was in school at that time. When he arrived from school, he confirmed to me that I had received the transfer. I was very happy to hear that."

"The drought situation has made it hard for one to get water for use at home. I spent a total of KSH 200 purchasing water. I also have three children who are currently in primary school. They had been sent home to pick school fee balances. I decided to share KSH 300 with each so that they could go back to school and continue with their education. In addition to paying school fees, I spent KSH 1100 buying maize flour. Since I do not have a job, I decided to buy the maize flour so that my family does not miss food. I have a small child who before receiving the transfer developed some health problems. I took her medication to the public hospital but was not able to get better treatment. This forced me to look for a better private hospital so that she could be treated. This in turn ended with me paying KSH 800 for the bill."

"The main challenge we are currently facing is high food prices and lack of rain. The drought situation has made us struggle a lot. This forces us to buy food from the shop. Everything we planted on the farm dried up and that means we cannot get food from the farm. When I received the transfer I did prioritize buying food for my family. I spent KSH 1000 doing that. Water has become very hard to find. Like the food, we also have to buy water from the water vendors at very high prices. I spent KSH 500 purchasing water for my home use. In addition to buying food and water, I spent KSH 1500 in savings in my Chama. We opted to start the Chama so that we can save money and get a considerable amount that one can use to start a bigger project for himself."

"Currently there is drought in our area and I have had to transfer my livestock to another area, where I have to buy grass and water for them which is very costly. Another challange is when one takes a look from inside my home my rooftop is teared apart from the whirlwind that blows all the time so mostly I am rained on l, and also the sun gets in directly and as you can see right now temperatures are so high, so it's quite uncomfortable. During rainy seasons it attracts diseases like pneumonia especially for my grandchildren who are below 5 years. I also go for days without a meal and I have little grandchildren which is quite tough for me. So whatever small i get I have to give them a priority, which makes me feel bad about my current life."