"I had been walking home after fetching water from the neighboring village. I felt my phone vibrate but I could not reach it as I was carrying water. When I got home, I took my phone out and checked to see who had sent me a message and was very happy that I had received the money from Give directly."

"I think the Give directly program of helping people like us who have nowhere to turn to especially during this drought is a blessing. With this money, many of us have been able to buy water and food for our families. I don't think there is anything they have done."

"I bought 6 bags of Cement 3 bags of lime and 2 pails of 20 litre paint. I also bought pots water dishes and place for my home"

"They new goal that I didn't had before I received the transfer is buying a water tank. This was not on my mind, my main priority was the school fees for my children. When I received the second transfer I found it worth to purchase a tank for storing clean water."

"I have managed to pay the builders and foreman to build and roof a new house for me. I used to own a house made from mud and with grass for a roof. Seeing how we are close to lake and rain water flows from the mountian to the lake, having a house made from mud leaves u in danger. I have also bought cement so that i secure the base of the house well."

"I'm a subsistence farmer and currently the extreme weather conditions has messed up my plans. Since the beginning of the year we haven't had rains and so there hasn't been any farming taking place. I'm always forced to sell my animals to be able to buy food and water for my family. At the moment I'm only remaining with three goats and I'm worried I have nothing more to sell should the draught continue into next year."

"Lack of water is my main challenge. A jerry can sell for about 30 KES. In a day I have to make two trips so that we can at least have water for personal use. I have to carry the cans on my head which is tiring, let us not even talk about the distance I have to cover. By the time I am back my legs are sore and my headaches a lot. I long to see the day it will rain, I will be so happy."

"I have difficulties with my eyes. They are itchy and watery. I have sought aid from nearby hospitals but they keep promising to stock up the drugs I need so that they can attend to the issue. I would have made the trip myself and bought the drugs, but I do not have money for transportation. I would need to hire a motorcycle which will cost me roughly 1000KES. Lack of money had made me endure discomfort and pain."

"The challenges that I currently face are a lack of food and water. The prolonged drought has brought many challenges to the community, food and water are the main basic things that we are struggling to get. I am afraid if this continues I might close my shop and end up with no source of income."

"I have always wanted to keep livestock because they give good returns when they multiply. However, the drought has made it impossible to keep cows because they cannot survive where there are no grass and water. My plan, therefore, is to be spending 2500KES every month to buy a goat because they can survive in dry areas and buy food with the remaining 500KES. I believe after a few years I will have a herd of them and sell them at a profitable amount."