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.
Pola's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Pola enrolled.
"Receiving this money means agricultural production. For a long time, I have been relying on agricultural production to earn an income for my family. However this is not possible at the moment due to the longer periods of drought experienced in our village. I have a dream of buying a generator that will help me pump water from a river close to my house which overflows when it rains. However, this has not been possible due to lack of money. I depend on casual jobs to feed my family. These jobs are not reliable since you may get hired today and tomorrow you are fired. This has made me and my family to sleep outside because my house is collapsing and I have no money to rebuild it. Upon receiving this money, I will buy a generator and water pumps that will cost me 50000KES so that when it rains, I make use of the water to start irrigation farming. This will help me make a lot of money to build my dream house."
Mercy's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Mercy enrolled.
"As I had mentioned to you ,maize production has been a problem because of the maize disease. We are left with no choice but to purchase with the meagre income my husband gets working as a casual labourer at a nearby farm where he works as an irrigation pump operator. That is the main issue here,we are food insecure. The cost of 2kg maize is KES 100 ,which to us is expensive ,it suffices only for a day."
Zosi's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Zosi enrolled.
"Long drought and famine that is currently facing our village is the biggest hardship that I have ever faced. Over the years, I have been depending on subsistence farming which would give us plenty of harvest. However, this has changed since the land is very dry. We also experience water shortages which makes it difficult to even do irrigation farming. In most cases, we go without food due to lack of water for only cooking leave alone bathing. This has forced me to start charcoal selling business which is illegal but because it is the only means for survival, we have no option. I intend to use the cash transfers to clear fee balances, buy food and buy livestock that will help us sell to get money when they multiply."
Mercy's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Mercy received a $500 initial payment.
"The biggest difference in my daily life is the joy of seeing the great farm projects rolling after obtaining a generator and pipes. Even though I am still setting the irrigation system up, I am glad that I will soon be running all-season farming as at the borderline of my piece of land is a permanent river that the whole community had been dependent on even on the dry seasons. I am hopeful that I will soon match the neighboring villages in food production and access to the ready market to earn some income that will in turn be settling other household bills."
Nyevu's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Nyevu received a $485 second payment.
"My life is different than it would have been if I never received the transfer in that I am living a better life. Through the transfer, I was able to accomplish my dream of starting irrigation farming. At the moment, I am growing maize for my family use by after buying a piece of land close the Galana river. In addition, I was able to boost my goat rearing by purchasing 4 more goats. Also, my children are learning without any interruption due to school fee arrears. Furthermore, we are wearing decent clothing something that has raised our living standards."
Chizi's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Chizi received a $502 initial payment.
"My health condition is deteriorating due to old age, I am no longer able to travel long distances to get water for the family use. I have desired to have tap water connected to my house so that I may have a steady water supply for the family. I spent KES 20,000 on purchasing a 3000litres water tank for storing enough water for myself. In addition, I purchase PVC pipes and a meter gauge for KES 12000 to connect water to my house. Furthermore, I am planning to start small irrigation farming with the excess water to grow vegetables like kales, tomatoes, and spinach. Lastly, I will be able to sell water to my neighbors to earn a living. I used the remaining amount to construct a latrine, this is because we were using the forest which pollutes the environment and is risky especially at night due to dangerous reptiles like snakes."
Evaline's family
access_time almost 3 years ago
Evaline enrolled.
"Getting this money to me mean that i will be able to clear school fees for my child who is in secondary school. The school owes me 170 dollars. I also have a grass thatched house which i use as kitchen. Its leaking when it rains. Sometimes its even hard to cook. I want to construct a iron roofed house which will cost around 150 dollars. I also have a problem with water. Our source of water is the river which is far from my house and the water is not safe for drinking. We have tapped water and i would like to change to my house. This will enable me to get water for household use and even use for farming. Our area is prone to drought. So when i get this water i can do irrigation in my farm."
Bett's family
access_time almost 3 years ago
Bett enrolled.
"Receiving this money means I will have a stable source of income. When I completed form four in 2008, I lacked school fees to proceed with college education I then resorted to being a farmer. Living near the river is a blessing but i have not had enough money to start up a irrigation project. I plan on putting my 2 acres of land under irrigation. I want to plant vegetables like tomatoes,onions and kales which mature after 3 months and sell to the nearest market. This will be giving me Ksh 10,000 per month and from this my family will have enough money for use. Installing the irrigation system will cost me 67,000. I plan on spending Ksh 18,000 in purchasing a water pump,Ksh 4000 on pipes,Ksh 15,000 on water tank and Ksh 30,000 will go to purchasing seeds,labour and fuel."
Chepkorir's family
access_time almost 3 years ago
Chepkorir enrolled.
"I am a farmer for subsistence purposes . Our area is relatively dry as you can see and so the produce does not do well because of scarce rainfall. The total amount of rainfall received per annum can hardly sustain our crops . Many a times we have encountered alot of losses because the crops wilt and dry when it takes long to rain and so food security is a real challenge here . It is for this reason that we plan to purchase a generator,pipes and sprinklers for irrigation , there is a permanent river which flows next to our farm ,we want to take advantage of the resource and utilize it to maximize our production for subsistence and the surplus for sale. we expect to use approximately USD 4500. We were also planning to expand the business of groceries ,we will spend the rest of the money towards the venture ."
Mutai's family
access_time almost 3 years ago
Mutai received a $490 second payment.
"Just like everyone who received the transfer from GiveDirectly, I have seen a lot of changes in my household that could not have been possible if I had never received it. I managed to add two cows to my herd that will soon boost milk production thus the milk-selling business that I had been running with the neighbor's produce. I also ventured into a new farming technique where I am producing vegetables under irrigation. So far my farms are doing so well and I am looking forward to making my first harvest soon."
irrigation