"I recently enrolled for a driving course after my father managed to pay for my tuition fee. I was at the verge of dropping out since I had not paid for the necessary documents. I am glad that the most recent transfer came in handy as it enabled me to pay for my Interim driving license, paid for my National Traffic Safety Administration examination fee and also paid of my Driving License after passing the examination. I am now at peace and happy knowing that I have a valid driving license that I did not have before despite being a motorcycle rider and I can now go on with my daily activities without worrying of being caught by the authorities."

"I have always wanted to build a new house, but I could not afford to buy any of the materials. This is because I relied on hand-to-mouth hustles that could come my way, besides being a tailor by profession. My initial house was small and could not fit all my four family members, which were growing. Therefore, I spent $270 to purchase building poles, iron sheets, and a metal door. I am so grateful that I was finally able to build a beautiful house that is spacious enough to have extra room for visitors. I also bought two goats, which I believe will thrive well considering that I have sufficient land for rearing them as well as favorable climatic conditions. At least I will have assets that I can rely on in case I am stuck financially." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"I aim to save enough money to acquire five goats for rearing purposes. Additionally, I plan to sell these goats at the local market. This will provide me with additional streams of income and help me achieve greater financial stability. To facilitate the transportation of the animals to the marketplaces and increase my income opportunities, I aim to secure a motorcycle on a loan basis. With a motorcycle, I can transport livestock to the market more efficiently. Furthermore, on other days, I can utilize the motorcycle to operate a taxi business, supplementing my overall income. "

"Depending on a single source of income can sometimes be stressful and uncertain when the salary is delayed. Therefore, as a side hustle, I hope to venture into the motorcycle spare parts business. I am an experienced mechanic, and handling such a job will not be a bother. From the income, I will comfortably provide for my family of five since the $200 I earn from the tutor job at the vocational college is insufficient to cater to all the family's needs."

"Since I already have 40 broods of chickens at the poultry house, I hope to venture extensively into this business, adding 60 more to make it 100 chickens. From the sales of the chicken and eggs, I will pay for school fees for my two children. Because I reared both improved Kienyeji and pure Kienyeji chicks, I will give all the eggs to the Kienyeji chicken to incubate, therefore increasing the stock. I will be glad that my family of four will have a constant source of income aside from the motorcycle taxi business that I run with passion."

"We immediately thought of business when we heard about GiveDirectly coming to our village, and it was our prayer that we would be selected. Fortunately, we were, and when we received the transfers, we bought a motorbike for $35, which we use for business and run errands at home. I usually go to the market and buy fresh vegetables in bulk for sale and my husband would use the motorcycle to transport them from one house to another, selling them at a slightly higher price than the one I had paid for them, and so far, it has been a profitable business. We also use the motorbike to assist us get water for domestic usage at home because carrying water on our backs would be highly risky to our health. I spent the second portion of the transfers on food and clothing for my children, which cost $5 each. With the casual jobs we were doing, it was rare that I find myself sacrificing to buy clothes, and if I did, it meant no meals that day. with the last portion of the transfers, I made a choice to have my own pit latrine because we share the one we have with 24 other people in the compound. I dug the hole for $8 and am now waiting for the top part to be completed."

"This year and beyond, my biggest accomplishment is investing my monthly stipend in buying livestock, such as goats. I plan to rear them and ensure they reproduce, multiplying the herd in large numbers. As the herd grows, I will sell some of the livestock to cater to my basic needs and handle any issues that may arise. I have previously earned a living as a motorcycle taxi rider, but the high cost of fuel has deterred me from continuing with the same. However, I am optimistic that engaging in the livestock business will help me earn more income and make me financially stable."

"As the primary provider for my family of four, I had been struggling to make ends meet by taking up casual labor on nearby tomato farms. Farming was not feasible due to our living conditions on rocky and sandy ground, and leasing fertile land was sometimes too expensive. My two children accidentally set fire to my grass-thatched kitchen just a week before I received the transfer from GiveDirectly, forcing me to redirect my focus to building a new one. For the kitchen roof, I paid $42 for four iron sheets and nails. Because I couldn't afford to buy more iron sheets for the walls, I opted to use mud on the walls. In addition, my husband's motorcycle needed maintenance, which cost $10 for spare parts. Furthermore, my husband's motorcycle needed repairs, which cost $10 in spare parts. I also spent $50 on tuition for my two daughters who attend a private school nearby. With the intention of earning extra money, I leased a plot of land for $25 and spent the remaining $50 on clothes for my children and other household items that were missing. GiveDirectly's support was quite helpful, and I am appreciative. With the subsequent transfers, I expect to do much more."

"Living in a semi-arid area is the biggest challenge due to persistent drought. For the past three years, there has been inconsistent rainfall hence no food is produced from our farms. We rely on purchasing foodstuff and with the rise in the cost of living, making ends meet is hard. I do a motorcycle business that earns me an average of $3 which is not enough to cater to all the needs up to school fees of my five children." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"Because I am starting something completely new, my goal is to learn as much as I can about tailoring, sewing, clothes, and designs in order to make this a primary source of revenue for my family. I have no plans to start something new till this one is successful." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)