"The biggest change in my life since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly is how much it has improved things for me. I have been able to invest more in my farming, which is my main source of income. One of the biggest achievements was being able to afford an irrigation system, something that felt out of reach before. With this system, I can now pump water from the lake, which has made a huge difference in my farming activities. My crops are healthier, and I no longer have to rely on unpredictable rainfall. This support has made my life easier, and I am very grateful."

"The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly has been in farming. Before, I had a strong passion for farming, but I didn’t have the capital to get started. GiveDirectly gave me the financial support I needed to turn that passion into reality. With their help, I was able to invest in farming, and now I have a butternut farm. My plan is to use the money I earn from this farm to buy a generator, which will make irrigation much easier. I also intend to reinvest the profits back into farming to ensure that this venture remains sustainable in the long term."

"When my bed completely broke down, I had no choice but to borrow a small one from my mom to use temporarily, squeezing in with my two children. When I received my first cash transfer from GiveDirectly, I made buying a new bed and mattress my priority, which cost $75 plus $5 for transport from town. My house was also damaged by termites, especially the door, so I spent $18 on frames, nails, and labor to repair it. As a farmer, I rely on my generator for irrigation, but it had been faulty, so I used $17 to fix it. I also gave my children $17 to buy clothes, as they had worn-out ones. Before, I could only afford to prioritize food due to my limited income from my weekly vegetable business. I had also taken a loan from a microfinance, and paying it back has been hard, so I used $20 to reduce the balance, which still leaves $80. Finally, I spent the rest on food since we had none and often buy it daily or on credit when money is tight."

"For many years, I had dreamed of moving away from the casual jobs my husband and I had relied on for over ten years. We always wanted to engage in crop farming, but financial constraints and our limited income kept that dream out of reach. Earlier this year, after saving for some time, we finally tried crop farming. We planted maize on an acre of land, hoping it would bring us some relief. However, things didn’t go as planned. Heavy floods destroyed all our maize, leaving us devastated. Just as we were thinking of giving up, GiveDirectly came to enroll us, restoring our hope. We decided to give farming another try. As I waited for the first transfer, I began preparing the land. I plowed and made ridges, determined to succeed this time. When I received the money, I didn’t waste any time. I bought tomato seedlings worth $180 from Naivasha, where I knew I could get the best quality, and spent an additional $10 on transport costs. It was exciting to start planting again, and my entire household, including my four boys, my husband, and even my husband’s brother, helped with the planting to cut down on costs. Managing the crops has not been easy. I have had to sell some of my goats to cover the costs of irrigation, herbicides, and pesticides. Despite the challenges, my crops are now doing well, and we expect to harvest in less than two months. Additionally, we have faced difficulties with food, especially after losing our maize crop to the floods. However, with the remaining $10 from the transfer, I bought essential food items like sugar, maize flour, and other necessities to sustain us. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for making this possible."

"Upon receiving $200 from GiveDirectly, I was eager to stick to my planned use for the money. I allocated $170 to start tomato farming, which had been my goal. This amount covered land preparation, irrigation costs, and materials for fencing my farm. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I was able to begin tomato farming for the first time in my life because I finally had the capital to do it. After the recent flood destroyed my maize crop, leaving me with no harvest, this opportunity meant a lot to me. Now, my tomato farm is thriving, and I plan to use the proceeds to improve my standard of living, pay my child's school fees, and ensure the sustainability of this farming venture. I used the remaining money to buy food for my family so that while I am farming, they are well-fed and energized."

"When I received the cash transfer, I knew it was the perfect time to invest in my farm. I used $20 to plough half an acre of land and another $20 to make ridges on the farm, which would make irrigation easier. Since I didn't have any seeds, I spent $30 on bean seeds. It was the right season for planting beans, and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity. If I had delayed, the weather would have affected the crops. I’m hoping that when the beans mature, they will help me cover my son’s high school fees. To ensure the farm was well-watered, I spent $30 on fuel for the generator, which I use to pump water for irrigation. I also paid $10 for labor to help with the planting of the beans. With the farm running smoothly, I was able to focus on my family’s other needs. My son’s school fees were due, and I didn’t want him to be sent home, so I used $30 to cover that as well. Normally, my husband, who works as a policeman, pays for the fees, but his salary was delayed this time, and I had to step in. With the remaining money from the transfer, I bought household food items and some clothes for my daughters. We needed to ensure that we were food secure, especially while waiting for the crops to grow. My daughters were also happy to receive new clothes since they knew I had received some money from GiveDirectly, and they wanted to look good. It’s been a relief to cover all these pressing needs thanks to the transfer."

"Receiving the cash transfers means so much to me and my family. When I receive the cash transfers I have planned to purchase food and other household goods. I will use about KES 15,000 of the cash transfers on this. Depending on the cost of goats in the market place I intend to use about KES 50,000 of the cash transfers. This will be a great investment for me since I'm unable to move and do other activities. I also plan to do irrigation and plant crops in my farm. This is important since I will be able to sustain my family's food source and also get some to sell in the market. For the remaining amount I intend to put up savings for emergencies that may arise."

"Two years ago, an accident left my legs paralyzed, and I became unable to support my family of five. Since then, we’ve relied entirely on my wife, who takes on casual jobs to keep us going. When I received my second transfer from GiveDirectly, I saw an opportunity to change this by venturing into crop farming to ease her burden. I began by purchasing a generator to support irrigation, as droughts are frequent in our area and reliable water access is essential for a successful harvest. I also bought four bags of fertilizer, each costing $35, to ensure the crops would thrive. Given that my own land is only half an acre, I rented an additional acre for $120. For the past two years, I had been leasing out my land due to my inability to farm, but with these new resources, I’m planning to plant vegetables on both the leased and owned land this October, using my final transfer. My goal is to help my wife step away from casual jobs and focus on our farm, so that together, we can generate enough income to sustain our family. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"At my farm in the Parkera irrigation scheme, I was finishing up my irrigation work as the sun was setting. It was getting late when I received a message informing me that GiveDirectly had sent me $180. I felt a wave of happiness and gratitude. My first thought was to stick to my plan and use the money to buy sheep, as I had originally intended. This support from GiveDirectly would help me achieve my goal and improve my farming efforts."

"The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving transfers from GiveDirectly is my ability to shift from rain-fed to irrigation agriculture. With the money I received, I was able to buy pipes to pump water, something I couldn’t afford before. This has allowed me to cultivate my land more reliably, regardless of the weather. Another significant change is in my livestock. Before GiveDirectly, I had five sheep, but now I have seven. This growth is a great achievement for me, and these sheep will serve as an emergency resource. If a need arises, I can sell one to address it."