"My main source of income is charcoal burning, which earns me approximately KES 500 every week. This money barely covers a week's worth of food or school fees for my seven children in today's tough economy where commodity prices keep rising by the day. My wish has always been to keep livestock to supplement my income but have been unable to do so owing to financial constraints. The transfer presented me with the perfect chance to accomplish my ambition. That is why I spent the entire transfer amount on a KES 3,000 goat. When it reproduces and the herd grows, I can sell the offspring to generate money for household needs."

"As the primary provider for my six children, I run a small food-point business in my village where I prepare and sell local foods for a profit. Considering the rising commodity prices, the KES 400 I earn every day is barely enough to cover my basic needs like food.  As a result, I occasionally struggle to meet other demands, such as my children's school expenses. This is why I used KES 400 from the transfer to pay off unpaid tuition amounts for my two children in grades eight and seven, who had been pulled out of class on a regular basis to collect the money. In addition, to support my business, I purchased KES 400 in charcoal for cooking the meals because it was almost running out. I spent the remainder on food in order to push the remaining stock and provide enough meals for my children."

"I no longer engage in strenuous activities to support my family after falling and injuring my waist while chopping tree stumps for charcoal making. Jumaa, my son, is my primary breadwinner. Working as a vegetable seller in Mombasa, he sends me KES 500 after every two weeks for the family's needs.  Despite the fact that I live in a two-person household (with my nephew), this amount hardly covers our food costs for the two weeks, given the rising commodity prices. In reality, the night before the transfer, we had slept hungry. As a result, I prioritized purchasing maize flour for KES 950 using the transfer funds. In addition, I paid KES 1,000 to workmen to prepare half an acre of my land for maize planting and utilized KES 300 to secure seeds. Rains had begun that week, raising hopes of growing maize crops for household consumption. I saved the remainder as pocket money in case we ran out of food or sanitary supplies."

"I had been obtaining a liter of milk from my neighbor on credit and paying a lump sum amount whenever I get the money after a week and sometimes a month. I hoped to spend part of the transfer on buying a lactating cow, but because of the high prices; I settled on a heifer worth KES 20000. I was glad to have gotten a good breed that will potentially produce enough milk for my family of four in the future. I also paid the hospital bill of KES 6000 after delivering my kid, paid tuition fees for my children, and spent the remaining KES 25000 on buying foodstuff, new pairs of clothes, and also household items. I am grateful for the support I received from GiveDirectly and hope to do a lot after receiving the second transfer."

"We used 30000 to buy a dairy cow and used another KES 10000 to pay school fees for a secondary school student, paid rent for one of my children worth KES 4000. Another KES 6000 was used to buy building materials while the remainder was utilized in purchasing food and clothes for my family members including my children. For a long time, we have endured the costly prices of milk since we did not own a dairy cow. We had been unable to buy the dairy since we were so preoccupied with payment of school fees for our children. The amount of money that we make from farming which is our main economic activity is hardly enough to allow us save. We feel happy that GiveDirectly came in handy to help is realize our dreams earlier than we had anticipated."

"When my last transfer was sent, as a family, we were experiencing a lot of financial constraints. My husband had lost his job, and acquiring food and paying our children's school fees was a big struggle. Immediately, I confirmed the receipt of my transfer, I opted to spend KES 12,000 on paying for my two children's school fees. They were at home due to unpaid fee arrears amounting to KES 15,000. Unfortunately, I did not have sufficient money to pay off the outstanding fees because the first transfer was over. I spent it all to offset the debts we previously had. I also spent KES 10,000 on food for the family because I was anxious about how things might turn due to the continuous rise in foodstuffs prices. Lastly, I opted to buy two goats at a total cost of KES 8,000. These are live assets that can be of great help for us as they increase in number."

"We have a family business that is being run by my spouse. Previously we could manage with the profits we made from it but later this year it became challenging, especially after the rise in the prices of most commodities. This led us to spend part of the capital. Since we had agreed that the first transfer was to be used to boost the business, we spent KES 52000 on boosting the Mpesa float. The profits have increased since then, and we can save some money every month. KES 3000 I used to buy decent clothes for my children so that I could replace the ones they had outgrown."

"I was glad to spend KES 31000 out of my first transfer on purchasing a lactating dairy cow to add to the herd of three heifers I had been rearing. Buying a daily liter of milk for my family of three has never been easy, especially during this season when the prices of other household goods have been high. At the moment, we have a plentiful supply of milk enough to sell some to the neighbors. I also bought a sheep at KES 3000, paid KES 10000 school fees for my daughter who is currently in secondary school, and obtained KES 20 iron sheets with the remaining KES 15000 that I look forward to using in the construction of a new house for my family. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the support and hope that the second transfer will come in handy in the initiation of other new projects."

"Due to the financial constraint, I was going through, my two secondary school children were at home due to school fees. Both are in form four though in different schools. I was in a panic mood knowing that they will be affected academically since this is their last year to do a national examination. For the ones who are in grade six, they did not give me much headache since they are still below the ladder of education. Therefore, instead of withdrawing the money to give them to go back to school, I felt it would take a lot of time. I sent KES 25000.00 and KES 15000.00 direct to their class teachers so that payment could be done on their behalf as they travel back to school. Thereafter, I opted to buy a stock of food since the prices of goods had hiked greatly. I bought 100 kilograms of maize flour for KES 10000.00 to ensure food security at home. I also bought a small solar panel on hire-purchase by paying a deposit of KES 3000.00. This panel has greatly helped me and my family by providing some light as well as cutting the expenses of buying paraffin. Having the lights has helped my children to conduct their studies well at night without straining."

"The transfers were sent late in the evening and since I did not have any serious engagement, I was just taking some rest. Although deep within me I was really worried about how the cost of living had gone up with commodity prices on the rise every day. As my mind was thinking over all the current situation in our country, I received a message notification and as soon as I checked it, I at first did not believe my sight. A Mpesa message of KES 55,000? Honestly, I had a mixed reaction, I felt both happy and shocked at the same time. That was amazing because the highest amount I had ever received in my lifetime at once was KES 20,000."