"I spent to purchase building materials including 22 iron sheets, nails, building poles, treads, and paid KES 15,000 labour charges. This was for the construction of a decent shelter for my family since the one I had earlier was very small, one-roomed that was not enough to accommodate all our family members and our commodity. With the remaining amount, I am planning to use it to purchase water to complete the construction by putting up the mad on the walls. I also used part of the remaining amount to acquire sufficient food for the family."

"In our village, rainfall is scarce. Wells and water pan dry very fast. Like in my place of birth, I have wished to invest in water conservation. I plan to buy water tanks with the transfers. I will be safe if I get two 5000 liters water tanks. I will use the water to irrigate my farms, and as well sell to other people for a living."

"All my 51 years have been lonely ones. I have never married. Always found solace in my late mother's company but when she passed on one year ago, I just cannot figure out how to take care of myself both emotionally and physically. I am not disabled but my legs seem to be having pain that does not go. Right now, I have no water in the house but I can't fetch. If I had a wife, I'm assuming that she would have taken care of that and even the house chores."

"Lack of finance, I only get casual jobs from time to time, fetching water for people and tilling their land. The income I earn is about Ksh.100 - 200. It is not enough to cater to our different needs. I have seven children, they need food, education, and clothing. We tend to go for days without food and as a mother it hurts to watch my children sleep without eating."

"The biggest hardship I have ever faced in my life is lack of money. This is because I depend on charcoal production as a source of income.The business is Labour intensive and the return is KES 2400.The money is not enough for all domestic needs such as food and water that I must buy since it scarce. The drought has caused a lot of stress and anxiety, one must have money to get water. Due to this I have been struggling to save money so as to uplift my life. Sometimes I feel so sad that I think it is like the world is against me ."

"Before receiving the transfer, I would at times borrow clean water for drinking and cooking from one of my neighbors who has a water tank. This is because water from the river is sometimes so dirty that one cannot use them to cook due to fear of contracting some water-borne diseases. With the transfer from GiveDirectly, I was able to buy a water tank with a storage capacity of 3000 liters and I am happy that I will no longer be borrowing water anymore. With this, we do not have to worry about contracting some diseases and we can only pray to God to bestow us with good health and I am happy about this."

"It was around 9 am when I was in my house sweeping after coming back from fetching water for the household. I was with the helper when received the message on my phone. He confirmed that it was the transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt very happy for receiving such a good amount of money which would solve most of my problems."

"I had been buying milk for a long time from my neighborhood since I never had a cow that could give my family enough milk for use. On receiving my first transfer, I spent KES 23000 on obtaining a heifer that has given me new hope to soon produce enough milk for my family. I also needed to till my land in readiness for the planting season and had to spend KES 5000 on hiring a tractor. I also spent the remaining amount on obtaining foodstuff worth KES 8000, clothing for my three children worth KES 4000, furnishing the new house with cushions on our new seats at KES 2500, a water tank that will be useful in storing rainwater, and reducing the tedious movement to and from the river at KES 2500, and saved the remaining KES 4000 meant for the farm inputs in the next planting season."

"One the major challenge that I face is to find food to feed my family. At the moment, I am doing some works on my farm but getting food to feed myself while doing that work is a serious challenge for me because the rice on my farm is not ripe for harvest yet. Another challenge I face is with my dwelling place. When rain falls, we have to put pans and buckets on our bed and other places in the room so that the water can't wet our things. The room gets cold when this happens."

"It was around 10 am when I was on my way back home from the nearby water pan. I had gone to fetch water for my family. I heard a message on my phone upon checking I discovered that I had received the transfer. I felt very happy and eager to reach home to tell my spouse about the good news. He also felt happy and we jointly rejoiced for receiving the transfer."