GDLive Newsfeed
We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time. Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
Sharon's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Sharon received a $489 initial payment.
"The biggest difference in my daily life is the renewed hope of picking the construction of my new house. The first step of purchasing enough iron sheets gave me a great feeling as this was the beginning of the work that I have always hoped for. This will not only be providing a decent shelter but also create enough space for my growing family and also enhance the collection of the rainwater from the roof."
Hillary's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Hillary received a $489 initial payment.
"Having a good shelter for my family has always been my aim but I had not been able to achieve it due to an unstable source of income. Currently, I am happy and satisfied that I was able to build a two-room house using the transfer. With this house, my wife will not be going to the river to fetch water during the rainy season since I will be harvesting rainwater. In addition, I am glad that my children will soon start spending their nights at home since they will be able to sleep in the kitchen."
Dzendere's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Dzendere received a $11 initial payment.
"I do not have a permanent job neither does my husband. We depend on manual jobs which are hard to come by these days. With lots of needs to take care of within the family, I sought to start a small fish business to try and earn something from it. The main challenge I am currently facing together with my husband is not being able to pay school fees fully for our three children, provide a three-course meal for our children and ourselves. When I received the transfer spent KSH 400 in paying school fees for the children. In addition to the fee payment, I spent KSH 520 buying food for the family. The food stock in the house was already depleted. I also spent KSH 250 buying water for my use at home. Purchasing water from dealers is the norm because of the drought conditions we are having at the moment. The water has become very expensive and for those who go looking for water, they have to walk for several kilometers to get water for their use."
Edina's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Edina received a $365 second payment.
"I used my last transfer to build a house. I have been desiring to build a bigger and a better house. I bought all needed materials such as iron sheets, wires and timber. I also bought 5 bags of maize for food processing. I have been struggling with hunger in the past. I also did have enough kitchen utensils such that I could borrow to my neighbor whenever I receive a visitor. When I received my transfer, I bought enough pots, plates, spoons and water buckets. I also used the money to start livestock production and I bought 2 goats. I also have saved part of the money to pay a carpenter who will do the roofing of my house."
Bendera's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Bendera enrolled.
"I will be able to pay school fees for my children. I have been struggling to pay school fees for my two children who are in primary school. This past year they have been sent back home countless times. I am a farmer but for the past two years, I have not been able to farm or earn. I have ulcers and the doctors advised that I take a break from work. My husband has had to chip in and pay their school fees but his income is not sufficient. He fetches and sells water in Mombasa using his cart. I plan to use these transfers in paying their school fees to avoid them being sent back for school fees and ensure that they get to high school and get their certificates."
Bahati's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Bahati enrolled.
"This year has been tough on us farmers, we usually expect rains the last four to three months. It has not rained and this has affected our productivity. We have no water and food is scarce, especially vegetables. We have to walk for kilometers to get water and this is time-consuming and tiresome. I have five children and it is hard finding time to go to the stream to fetch water. I have to ask for assistance from other people in the compound. We no longer have a variety of vegetables to choose from, we eat silver cyprinid regularly. This is not nutritious, especially for young children."
Wema's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Wema enrolled.
"This money will be meaningful as i will buy ironsheets so that in the near future we should no longer worry about rains because whenever it's a rainy season our house its always in water due to leaks from the roof (grass thatched), on our own we couldn't manage because we don't have a fixed source of income as a husband i go fishing and i sell some of the fish which is less 2000 and i use that to buy maize for us to be eating but we couldn't afford to build a beautiful house"
Saumu's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Saumu enrolled.
"Drought has brought many challenges in our lives and with the poor economy, things are getting tougher. Food and water are like gold nowadays because getting them is not easy as before."
Anisa's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Anisa enrolled.
"Unemployment makes it really difficult for me to afford normal life in this village. We have to buy nearly everything since the onset of this prolonged draught ranging from water, food to hay for our animals. This condition has overly inflated the cost of living to an extent that I can't afford it anymore. I just wish I could go back to my teaching job but the school still owes me a lot."
Noah's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Noah received a $489 initial payment.
"I am a farmer dealing majorly in crop farming of kales, cabbages, and tomatoes. Our region at times experiences prolonged drought seasons and my farm is located in an area full of stones. Due to this, water retention is low and I am forced to practice irrigation most of the time. Because of this, I have been hiring a water pump from one of my neighbors and it is costly and upon receiving my transfer, we decided to purchase one worth KES 22000. In addition, I spent KES 15000 to buy 20 pieces of iron sheets that I am planning to use in building a more decent iron-roofed house for my family since the one we live in is grass thatched and the roof has to be changed every two years. I used the remaining KES 15000 on clothes and foodstuffs for my family."
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