"GiveDirectly did well because they enabled me to buy a water tank. I hence no longer make long trips to the river to fetch water. Most people in the community were also able to buy water tanks and hence they can now collect rainwater. Water is usually a big challenge in our area and people have to go long distances to the river to get water. We are hence so much grateful to GiveFirectly for this."

"On November 10, 2021 when I came from washing at the waterside, I heard that some people from our town had received money from GiveDirectly on their mobile accounts. I went to my uncle to check my account because I am not educated. When he checked the account, he told me that I have received my transfer from GiveDirectly as well. I felt so happy for the money because this money will settle so many things for me."

"I was outside my house relaxing after walking a long distance looking for water. I heard message ringtone from my phone signaling a new SMS in it. I immediately took the phone to my helper's house to verify it. I was so excited when it finally settled to my ears that I had received my transfer from GiveDirectly as promised during the enrolment stages."

"With 4 children still schooling, one in college taking an IT course and 3 in secondary. I had a very tough time educating them since I did not have a reliable job, they were constantly sent home due to lack of school fees something that eat away at my happiness. After receiving my transfer, I spent KES 20,000 to pay part of their school fees. I also used KES 15,000 to renovate my house which was about to collapse. Furthermore, I spend the remaining amount on food and water for my family since we were experiencing drought in our area."

"I had been living with my grandchild for over six years now and even though it has just been the two of us in the house. Meeting all the household financial obligations has never been easier for me. I had been tying all I could both in farming and also small businesses with the hope of accumulating enough money to construct a new house but in most cases, things have not been working well for me. On receiving the first transfer, I spent KES 47000 on obtaining enough timber, 15 iron sheets, nails, building poles, and also settling the labor charges on the construction of my new house. The initial one that I had been living in was too old especially on the roof since it would allow a lot of water in through the openings between the grass bundles. I am glad that after the construction I am not being affected by the cold that had led to the frequent visits to the hospitals due to chest and lungs problems. With the remaining amount, I managed to purchase enouigh household goods that include clothing for both my grandchild and me, and also foodstuff that we are still using to date."

"Living in an old structure had been so frustrating especially during the rainy seasons as the roof was already rusted and could let the rainwater drip flooding the floors and at times could mess with the bedding. On receiving the first transfer, everyone in the household agreed that the renovation of the roof had to be a top priority. I purchased 22 irons sheets at KES12000 that has facilitated the replacement of the rusted roof of my house. I also added a heifer at KES 20000 to one lactating cow I had been having together with an additional heifer that belongs to my neighbor but had been grazing with mine over some time. I am looking forward to some extra liters of milk produced in the future that, in turn, will enhance school fees payment for my children. Having renovated the roof of my house, I also saw a need to replace the old seats and brought in new ones at KES 8000, settled the KES10000 school fees for my daughter currently in college, and obtained a barbed wire with the remaining amount that has been useful in fencing around the grazing field for my livestock."

"We live in an area that normally experiences very low rainfall and more often than not we face water shortages. The distance to the nearest water point is approximately 3 kilometers where people go to fetch in 20-liter jerrican. At my age, I cannot go that distance let alone carry anything heavy. I have a granddaughter who goes to school on weekdays and I have to wait until weekend to assist me get some water. I have a desire to own a 5000-liter water tank to help me store water whenever it rains. I plan to spend KES 30000 to buy a plastic water tank and another KES 1500 to buy gutters to direct water to the tank. Receiving this money will relieve me the stress of going several kilometers in search of water."

"Receiving this money means a stable old age for me. At the moment I have to struggle so much to find food, water and at night my house is too cold. I am not happy at all that I have grown old, I wish I were still young with energy so that I can fend for myself. I would like to use these transfers to buy a water tank because I have no more energy to carry water from the river. I will also buy windows for my house so that I will not have cold nights again. The rest I will use to plant some maize in my farm and it will help me to have more food next year."

"I am happy that for the last six months, we have had enough rainfall that enabled us to plant crops and harvest water because that is a challenge that we experience everyday. This in turn has affected our lives positively."

"We have had constant and sufficient rain for the last six months that has enabled us to farm and harvest rainwater that we have been able to use. This has cut down on the time that I spend fetching water and the exhaustion of fetching water has reduced and that has made me happy always."