"Receiving this money means having a decent house, my house is in a very bad state, it is also grass thatched. Every year we change the roof, right now am worried because this year i do not have enough grass for the roof. As if that is not enough I smear the floor with black mud every week which is tiresome and water is also scarce. With the transfers that I will receive I will renovate my house and buy iron sheets for roofing. Thank you Givedirectly for the opportunity."

"I spent KES 26,000 to purchase one ox and 2 goats. I am planning to train it to assist me in ploughing my farm since I am sick diagnosed with ulcers and higher blood pressure. Because of my sickness, I was advised not to do laborious activities like digging with my hand. I also spent KES10,000 to pay part of the school fee arrears for my daughter who is from 2. Furthermore, I spent KES 8,000 to clear the fees arrears for my other children who are in primary school. The remaining amount assisted me in purchasing enough food and water since we are experiencing drought in our area."

"I spent part of my first transfer on buying twenty pieces of iron sheets at a total of KES 17400, building poles KES 6000, nails, and timber. This was for the construction of a new house to at least make a change on the previous one which was very small and had a temporary roof. Some of my children ( four) had to seek shelter from their friends' houses which were relatively far from the village and I was always worried. In addition to that, I gave the mason KES 5000 as his labor fee. Also, I bought a second had a bicycle at KES 4000, which is now of great help in transporting water from the dam which is 7KM away from the village. I also bought a mattress worth 4000 for my spouse who is very old and sick. He is now very happy since he sleeps comfortably and no longer complains of the backpains. I later paid a school fees KES 2000, for my two children who are in primary schools. With the amount of money that had remained, I bought foodstuffs."

"I spent part of my first transfer on buying a new wooden bed at KES 6250 and a mattress worthy of KES 4000. These were to replace the old rags that I have been using for years as beddings. I also bought a water tank of 2400litres at KES 1700, and I am happy I now have a place to store the rainwater that I will be harvesting in the next winter season. In addition, I bought twenty pieces of iron sheets, building poles, nails, and timber KES 23000. This was for the construction of a new house because the initial one was a small hut with a grass-thatched roof that could leak excessively whenever it could rain. Also, it was very small and it could not accommodate my five family members. With there remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family."

""If we are successful to get this money, our plan is to build a better house. We have planned to build a new house because as the house we live in is old, and it's not grantee, and decent. During the raining season we have no peace because the roof is badly leaking and the wall falls everytime. For the past 3 years we have rebuilt parts of this house over 6 times. Whenever it's midnight and it rain we will remain standing till morning. When it rains heavily during day time we either sleep in neighbors house. This house was built on an old dump site. We're afraid that one day this house fall on us. We're worried everytime it raining. It has always been our plans to have a better house of own where we will have no embarrassment and shame everytime it rains. With a new house we will not pay people everytime to dup, we will not sleep in water each time it rains or embarrass our neighbors for accommodation. When we able to build a new and solid house, we will be free from embarrassment and shame, and we will have peace. Building a new house for ourselves is a plan that had long been made by us just that we have not had money. So with this money, we definitely planed to build our own house so as to make us feel as a better family, and stop being mocked at."

"It was 8 a.m. and I had just gotten back home from fetching water from the well. I had heard murmurs from the neighbours that some villagers had received cash transfers from GiveDirectly, so I decided to check my phone. I was pleasantly surprised to see the message indicating that I had received KES 55,000. I was so excited and looked forward to building a new house for my family."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is the ease of accessing plenty of water from the large water tank I obtained. Livestock management and other household activities that needed water are no longer a major problem as the rains are still on. I am hoping to see the tank full in a week, and this means I will be enjoying enough water supply for a good number of months ahead."

"I spend my mornings doing energy-draining activities such as weeding and fetching water from a nearby water pan. It is in the afternoon that I get to rest and this, therefore, makes it the happiest part of my day."

"Receiving this money means a better house for my family. This is because I am now living in a house that is not in good condition, the iron sheets are old and need replacement. I am planning to spend KES 40,000 on the renovation as well as buying one bed and a mattress. I will use KES 15,000 of the second transfer to buy five goats. As they multiply I will sell at a profit and address any emergency that will arise. The remaining amount will help me clear school fees for my granddaughter and other basic needs such as food and water."

"Domestic violence saw me separate from my estranged husband 2 years ago. Thereafter, I had to bear the sole responsibility of raising my 6 children by engaging in charcoal production that gives me at most KES 1800 in 2 weeks. This money is barely enough for food. My eldest child did not get the privilege of going to school because of all these challenges. He now does casual jobs to supplement the family income. My biggest hardship is therefore lack of sufficient income for food, water, education and other basic needs."