"It was exactly at 9 am, I was on my way going to the nearest water pan to fetch water for the household with the helper. I heard a loud message ringtone on my phone. I had passed my phone to my helper to check its content. I was very excited after she break the good news that I had received my transfer. I was anxious to reach home to notify the rest of my family about the same. We together rejoiced and thank GiveDirectly for the transfer."

"The moment I received my transfer, I was preparing to step out to shop when I heard my phone ringing and vibrating loudly, Upon checking I saw a Mpesa notification message showing that I had received money from GiveDirectly, I was overwhelmed with joy and happiness, I knew that I will be able to purchase a water tank, words cannot express how happy I was, I am grateful to have received the support from GiveDirectly."

"Currently we are in the raining season so growing vegetables crops at the time is a difficult thing to do because as the rain falls the swampy land pull more water and my crops die."

"Receiving this money means a spacious house to my family. I am now living in a one bed room house which is not enough for a family of five members. I plan to spend KES 40,000 to build a two roomed house to accommodate me and my children. I will also spend KES 20000 to purchase eight goats which do well in our area. The remaining amount will help me to cater for other basic needs such as food, water and emergency."

"As a breast feeding mother I need to eat well so as to produce enough milk for my child. Despite the drought that has led to food and water scarcity in our area, I have still enjoyed good health. This has enable me to still feed my baby well, bringing joy and happiness in my life."

"Receiving this money means improved living standards for my household. I plan to achieve this through livestock keeping. I will use KES 30,000 of the first transfer to purchase ten indigenous goats which do well in our area due to drought.As the goats multiply, I will sell at a profit and use the proceeds to address my basic needs such as food, water and school fees. The remaining amount will help me to build a two roomed house and beddings which will need about KES 50,000.The remaining amount will be for any emergency."

"Water- My wife and I normally wake up at 4am to walk a distance of 5km to go and fetch water. I live my children at home alone which is unsafe for them. Prolonged drought -We have been unable to harvest anything on our farms due to lack of rains. This has reduced the food security making us sometimes go to sleep without eating. School fees-our unreliable source of income has affected us to an extent of being unable to pay for our children's school fees. Currently, my daughter was sent back from school due to lack of school fees."

"Food has been a problem to me due to the persistent drought we have experienced in this region. I have not been able to harvest anything for the last two years. Water and sanitation have also been a big challenge. I normally drink unclean water and if I have to get clean water, I walk almost 10km to get it."

"With the only cow I had been having, I have always experienced dry seasons where I was forced to buy milk from the neighborhood. This struggle had been pushing me to think about how best I can obtain another lactating cow and has never been possible until recently when I received the transfers. I managed to obtain one at KES30000 and am now feeling covered as I will be alternating their breeding schedule through Artificial Insemination. I also had a new house that needed a new piece of furniture. I spent KES 12000 on chairs and a table making the interior part of the house looks good at the moment. I also obtained a medium-sized water tank that will be useful in collecting and holding clean water meant for drinking since the water fetched from the rivers around are not clean enough exposing us to the risk of waterborne diseases. I am also glad that I used the small remaining amount in obtaining clothing and enough foodstuff for my family of three."

"After several instances where my son was sent back from school after I failed to pay his school fees, I was glad to finally get this support from GiveDirectly. I had just taken back my child to school the previous week where I talked to the headteacher to allow him in for just a week since I was expecting this first transfer. On receiving it, I ensured that I honored my promise by settling that financial obligation I had in school to give my son ample time to prepare for his final examination. I had a debt of KES 12000 that I paid on receiving the transfer. I also paid half the cost of a piece of land I am currently buying as I needed an additional field for my livestock. With the remaining amount, I obtained a sack of maize worth KES2800, a 25 Kilogram bag of rice at KES2000, a water storage facility worth KES 1500, and used the remaining amount on improving the grocery and maize business I had been running at the immediate shopping center."