"It has been a hard year this year. I decided to use all the money that is KES.3000 on food and water. This is because there are no rains we have not been able to plant anything on the farms so we have had to go in search of vegetables. Water too has been scarce making us buy water which has had to be transported by a motorcycle increasing the day's expenditure. Thanks to Give directly my family has yet to starve and is living comfortably."

"We have been experiencing a drought. We have not seen any rains since the start of the year and things are getting worse. Many of our livestock are dying of hunger and thirst. I decided to focus on buying food first for my family so that they can have healthy and enough food. I bought food and water worth KES.3000. This has helped a lot because since the day I have received this money I have not gone to bed hungry."

"Upon receiving the second transfer, I spent the first part of it on livestock - one being a cow at KES35000 and also two goats at a total cost of KES7000. All these are a build-up towards purchasing a piece of land that I am still looking for at the moment. I also obtained a chainlink that I will be using in the next few days in establishing a poultry coop. I have 10 chickens and will be adding more to the cages once the construction is done as they have been so helpful in settling most of the household bills. With the remaining amount, I obtained a plastic water tank at KES2700, foodstuff at KES4000, and saved the small amount that will be useful in paying any labor force that I will bring in during the construction process."

"It was around 8am when I received a message in my phone. I did not react immediately to know what the message was all about since I was very busy in a water crisis meeting with other villagers. At around 11am when were through with the meeting is when I took out my phone to see what kind of a message I had received. My heart melted with joy after seeing the first transfer from GiveDirectly was successful."

"It was around 10 o'clock. I was on my way from fetching water from the nearby water source when I received a message notification on my phone. I did not bother to check its contents since I thought it was the regular messages from the service provider. Upon reaching home, I heard my neighbors narrating how they had received the transfer. I immediately called the helper to confirm the Sms on the phone. I was surprised and extremely happy when I was informed that I had received my transfer. I called the other members of my household to inform them about the aid that we had anticipated from GiveDirectly which would solve most of our financial problems."

"I am a focused woman. I have always wanted to be financially stable but challenges have not ceased to come my way. A time came when I decided to join a women’s saving group which we use to save money weekly. With this group, I can ask for a loan invest it in any income-generating project. Since I started my contributions, I have experienced some hitches in raising the amount required for one to be given a loan by the savings group. When I learned that I had received the transfer I was very excited. I took KSH 1000 and saved it in the women’s group to increase my credit score. I also spent KSH 1000 buying vegetable stock for my business. I wanted to expand my business but did not have money to do that. I used the remaining amount to buy food and water for my family. Finding water for use has become a very big hustle due to the drought conditions. One has to purchase water from the vendors and this is very expensive for us."

"The biggest challenges I am currently facing with my family are having food and water. I am a farmer and have ever since I have depended on the farm. I grow crops which I use as food and at times sell the other products in the market and earn money from that. The farms are no longer productive due to the harsh weather we are experiencing. My health is also not that good I constantly fall ill and this has also contributed to my suffering. When I received the transfer I spent KSH 1500 to go and seek medication. I was at that time not feeling well. With the illness, I had to eat well and so I spent KSH 1000 buying food that fed the whole family. My health state does not allow me to carry heavy things so I decided to purchase water. Getting water is currently very hard. One has to walk for 30 to 50 kilometers to get this precious commodity."

"Getting daily meals is the biggest challenge for me. Getting fresh water for drinking is also a bigger challenge. The whole village relies on a borehole with salt water which is not safe for drinking. I have been sleeping on the floor for the last 4 years now. If I fall sick, I do not have anyone to take care for me nor take me to hospital. If I fail to sell my firewood, then I have to go to bed without food."

"Not having a stable source of income is the challenge I am currently facing. I am a substance farmer and with the pronged drought, I was left with nothing to do. I had to start cutting firewood and burning charcoal which I was not used to doing. This has made me sleep tired and not being productive. The revenue I used to get KES 1500 per week cannot cater to food and water. This worries me because I sometimes eat one meal per day or even sleep without eating."

"A private company by the name Mombasa cement brings water to the community every Friday. The water is free. This has really relieved us. So the free water has brought happiness to me."