"My husband is a casual worker, he drills wells and pit latrines this comes once in a blue moon with fewer returns amounting to KES 5000 per pit. We have five children and with the pronged drought getting water and food has been a challenge. We have to buy food and water every day, staying without a reliable source of income challenges me. I am worried about providing for my 5 children, sometimes I wish they were less but I can not do anything."

"I spent KES12000 repairing my husband's motorcycle that had been sidelined with a mechanical problem for far too long which made things more difficult for us. This is because the motorcycle used to help us in fetching water since we have to travel very far to get water and hiring the services of a motorcycle taxi is very expensive and unaffordable to us. Therefore, repairing the motorcycle was a very huge relief to us, as well as an investment because we can offer motorcycle taxi services to other people. I kept aside KES25000 to buy some goats when the current drought and famine subsides because it is very risky to keep livestock in this state of the climate and I would not want to throw away my investment."

"A prolonged period of drought has been the biggest challenge we are currently facing. Over the past 9 months, we have received inadequate rainfall in our area; lack of water and low crop production has been part of us. We entirely depend on rainfall to survive as a farmer because we have 0.5 acres of land where we have grown maize. I am worried that if the situation persists, my young family of 4 will cripple in hunger."

"When I receive the cash transfer, I will use some to improve small business, pay children school fees and the balance will be used to plaster my house floor. I am currently doing a small business and wish to improve it because the earnings cannot meet all of my family needs. The intention for the business was to complete my house, the house floor is very dusty that disturbs us a lot, we always pour water on the floor to keep it in a better condition. If I am successful to receive the cash transfer, I would love to buy cement and plaster the floor, My kids are not in school due to financial constraints, I will send them to school."

"It was around 9 AM when I was from the waterpoint then I heard my phone ringing so loudly. I was so tired and opted to ignore the message notifications. I went ahead with my household chores and for about ten minutes another message popped in. I asked my brother to confirm for me what it could be. From the look on his face, I suspected there was some splendid news for me. He happily informed me that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was so happy and I remember calling all my family members to inform them about the blessings."

"Before receiving the money I had the intentions to dig a well and pump water so that I could use since our village was experiencing drought and most times I had to buy water which was costly and also came from very far. I also wanted to at least manage to buy livestock so that I could rear."

"Financial struggles have really weighed me down. This has been made worse by the current drought that has made food and water scarce and costly. The little I get from my charcoal business is not enough to cater for all the needs. I have six children to feed, clothe and educate."

"Scarity of food and water is the biggest challenge that I am currently facing. This is due to ravaging of the drought that we are experiencing in our area, all the water pans that we have been relying on have dried up. This has forced me to buy water for household use every day. I, therefore, buy 4 jerricans of water daily that costs me KES 200. This is very costly to me since I have to buy food every day for my family of 5. With most of money spent on food and water, paying school fees is now a problem."

"In the month of September, my daughter got a job as a house help in Mariakani. This makes me happy because end month she gave me KES 2000 which I spend it on food and I was able to spend the little money I earn from my charcoal work on other household expenses like buying water."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is the relief I now have ever since I started receiving payments from GiveDirectly. I got a motorcycle which is both a helper in fetching water as well as an investment because it operates as a motorcycle taxi. I am happier and settled now unlike before, all thanks to GiveDirctly."