"By the time I received the cash transfer I was undergoing a tough time. Being a construction worker, it had been a month since I had earned any house construction contract and I had run out of money. Consequently, my household was running out of food since they mostly relied on me for provision. The transfer timing was also ideal, during a time when food prices had slightly gone down. I took advantage of the situation and bought food worth KES 1,700 to boost the existing stock. I obtained a hen worth KES 500 for rearing, to let it breed into a flock that could potentially generate money in the future when sold. Finally, saved the remaining amount which I used as transport to Mariakani last week when I was called for a house construction project. "

"Providing for my family of eight people has been challenging for both my husband and me. Given the rising commodity prices, the monthly wage of KES 2,500 my spouse makes from looking after livestock barely covers food or school fees for the children. In fact, my family had gone to bed hungry two nights consecutively before the cash transfer came in. Also, my son missed classes for three days due to a lack of money to clear his school fees. So, I gave him KES 200 to settle the amount and he gladly resumed his studies. I spent the rest amount on food to last us a few days while I waited to generate more money from the charcoal I had prepared. "

"We had experienced a dry spell of drought for quite a while. Since I practice vegetable and maize farming, realizing it was an uphill task. On the other hand all the prices of basic commodities had reached roof top. It is for this reason that I spent most of my first transfer to buy food for my family of seven. Besides, I reduced the school fees balance for my children. I am happy that GiveDirectly came through for us financially just at the right time for I was already overwhelmed by my family's responsibilities. I am an unskilled construction worker whereas my wife is a house wife. Thank you so much GiveDirectly"

"My family's life has become unbearable due to my lack of a formal job and an increase in food prices. I resorted to charcoal production, which has also been disappointing. As a result, when I received my transfer, there was no food in the house. Since we could easily get vegetables from our kitchen garden, I made it a priority to spend KES 500 on maize flour. I am glad I did not have a lot of stress for three days. Furthermore, because I had no savings and my children's tuition fees were already paid, I used KES 600 to reduce pending fee arrears of KES 1,000. As a result, my four children have had no problems at school for the past two weeks. May GiveDirectly continue to have a positive impact on many people's lives."

"I rely on splitting and selling firewood for a living. Due to the low demand, I can only make up to KES 600 per week from the sales. This amount barely provides enough meals for a week, considering the high food prices. Sometimes, things get so rough that I ask my two sons, working as hawkers in town, to chip in for food. When I received the transfer, my household had run out of food the previous four days and I had gone to bed hungry consecutively. As a result, prioritized purchasing food worth KES 960. Also, I spent KES 100 on a chicken to mark the start of investment through the cash transfer. When this bird breeds, I will sell the chickens to meet my financial obligations. Finally, my two grandchildren were sent home to collect examination fees two days after I received the money. Since their parents were yet to raise the funds, I gave them the remaining amount to clear the debt and take their tests."

"When I received the second transfer, the first thing I did was take my son to the hospital. For a while, he had been complaining about his lower abdomen only to realize he had some infection after the doctors examined him. He received good treatment which cost KES 7000.00 and I am glad he is doing well. Thereafter, I started a charcoal-selling business with a capital of KES 10000.00. I chose this business because it has quick money since most people have turned to use charcoals after the prices of paraffin and cooking gas accelerated. Since I have two children who are in primary school, I opted to pay their school fees for the whole year amounting to KES 9000.00 so that they concentrate on their studies. I also bought three goats for KES 10000.00 to add on the ones I had to boost the investment. For the remaining amount, I saved it for family use."

"My smallest child is a senior in secondary school. I'm optimistic that he'll do well on his final exams and pursue his goal of becoming a lawyer. I have struggled mightily over the past three years to educate my son as a subsistence farmer. The ongoing drought caused me to lose my only source of income. To get money for his tuition, I sold all six of the goats at deeply discounted prices. As a result, I spent KES 1000 on his tuition when I got my transfer. In addition to paying for education, I set aside KES 1500 with the goal of purchasing livestock as a long-term investment. Once the cattle multiply, this will assist me in increasing my fortune. I'll sell some in an emergency and use the proceeds to meet my immediate demands. After using up all of the food in the house, I finally used the remaining KES 500 to purchase food."

"One of the challenges that I am currently facing is that of climate change..The change in weather patterns has affected me in such a way that, I am unable to produce enough food especially staple food( maize) as it requires a certain amount of rainfall..This has resulted in making my family to not be food secured thereby not eating in the required daily amounts. Also,I own a motor bike and I do a motor bike business but the increase in fuel prices has resulted in less customers as prices for taking one person to the other has also increased..This have made me to have insufficient income to cater for my family."

"My husband, who makes and sells charcoal for a living, is the sole provider for our family. He can earn up to KES 2,000 in a good week. Due to the rising commodity prices, particularly food, this income barely meets all the necessities of my seven-person household. By the time I got the transfer, my four primary school children had been suspended from class for two days due to unpaid tuition costs. So, I settled the fee amount with KES 700 and they joyfully resumed school. I also spent the remaining funds on food because my family had gone to bed hungry the night before, after we ran out of maize flour."

"The desire to have a stable source of income that can adequately sustain my family's needs has been in my mind for years as I operate a small grocery shop in a nearby shopping center. My husband is a primary school teacher and his salary is mostly used to pay for our three children's school fees. I am, therefore, left in charge of daily household food with a bit of support from my spouse. Owing to the current rise in the prices of food commodities, the business can not sustain itself because there are times I end up spending the money meant for restocking. The business was on the verge of failing which got me worried. Thank God, that GiveDirectly came to my rescue. I used the whole of my first transfer to boost the business. I am impressed with the improved profits and looking forward to more of them after diversifying the business with the coming transfers."