"Now that I am unable to do heavy tasks due to my health condition, my wish was to invest heavily in farming. Unfortunately, I cannot do that because it requires a lot of energy. So, my plan is just to focus on and invest in my mangoes and papayas because they only need to be watered, and I have plenty of water at home. From their harvest, I will be able to meet my basic needs."

"Our current home is a small, one-room grass-thatched house which makes it vulnerable to floods. Recently, it rained through the grass roof, and the muddy walls did not help either. This setup also means we can't host visitors due to the limited space. Despite these challenges, I am looking forward to building a better, more spacious home with two rooms and an iron sheet roof, which will be much more decent. Unfortunately, I was counting on the maize I had planted on an acre of land to fund this project, but it was washed away by the water. However, I remain hopeful and trust that, God willing, I will be able to build the new house."

"My top priorities for this year are still to buy livestock and build a house. I put up with my house's rusty iron sheets being in bad shape the entire previous year. Every time it rained, I would spend the entire night shifting furniture around the house to keep it from being ruined by the rain water seeping in through the roof. This year, I intend to purchase two new iron sheets each month until I have enough to fix the roof completely. I'll feel better once the roof is fixed, and I can then concentrate on getting more livestock to add to the few I already have."

"I aim to build a floor in my house. Right now, the floor is made of mud. When it rains, the place sometimes becomes flooded with water, which dampens the space. Also, I fear that the mud walls may disintegrate from continuous rain. My wish is to have the walls plastered with concrete and install a concrete floor by the time the cash transfers end. I believe that this will protect the walls and the floor from water damage and, at the same time, shield my family from cold-related infections during the rains."

"The timing of the third transfer could not have been better, as it coincided with the planting season when I had not yet prepared my land. I felt anxious because the Kenya Seed Company, which had subcontracted us to farm maize seeds, had strict timelines to follow. I was on the verge of borrowing a loan when the money from GiveDirectly arrived. I used $75 to till the land and plant the seeds. This opportunity is close to my heart because the Kenya Seed Company provides a ready market for our harvest. This income helps me pay for my child's secondary school education, which costs around $600 yearly. This direct payment ensures that my child can focus on their studies without any disruptions. I allocated $175 to purchase a 2500L water tank, which has been a significant relief for our household. It means we no longer have to walk for more than two kilometres or wake up in the early hours to fetch water before it runs dry as the water source was not sufficient for the whole community. Additionally, I spent $50 on buying extra clothes for my children, ensuring they have enough to wear and feel good about themselves. Seeing them well-dressed makes me proud as a parent. I used the remaining amount to support my spouse, who does irregular jobs at a nearby spa resort. His monthly pay is only $70, which is not enough to support our family of five. By providing enough food for the family, I aim to relieve him from the stress of seeking additional sources of income."

"I am a widow of two children and I do casual jobs for survival. I make little money which caters for food . I have had the desire to have fresh tap water at home but due to lack of money I have not done it. I will use $1500 to install fresh tap water at my home for home use and for business as well. I will also use $11000 to buy solar panels for home use. I currently stay in dark rooms during night hours and it is a risk especially at times when there is a lot of grass around."

"After learning about GiveDirectly, I found it really easy to understand. We're actually really happy about their culture of helping people willingly and changing the lives of poor people. Because of them, my life has gotten a lot better. Now, I have a water tank, something I've always wanted but couldn't afford. I hope wherever they go, they're welcomed warmly."

"When the third transfer came through, my spouse and I sat down to plan how to use it wisely. We agreed to allocate $200 towards paying the school fees for our son, who is currently in Form 2 for this coming term, to make his secondary education journey smoother without interruption. This brought us a sense of relief, knowing that we could have enough time to look for money to cover the fees for the other terms through maize farming on our two-acre plot and from my wife's food hawking business savings. Another $30 went towards restocking food supplies for my wife's business, which is crucial in meeting the daily needs of our family of eleven. She prepares and delivers cooked food to farm workers at the Perkerra irrigation scheme. Additionally, we decided to invest $120 in purchasing two sheep. We expect them to multiply and provide us with offspring that we can sell to support our children's education down the line. We aim to ensure that all our nine children complete their education. I allocated $50 to facilitate irrigation on our two-acre maize farm, ensuring it remains well-watered for optimal growth. Lastly, I used the remaining to purchase a sack of maize. This ensures that we have enough food, especially during this April holiday when all our children are at home because their schools are closed."

"Working as a herb doctor, the income I make is mostly enough for providing basic needs like school fees and food for my wife and two children. There is nothing much I could do with the earnings beyond the essentials. It is due to this reason that I have not been able to install a water tank, an idea that was born from the water scarcity in my region. Having the water tank will mean that I can harvest and store rainwater for a long period. My goal is to install an underground tank with a capacity of at least 5000 liters."

"Once I receive my transfers, I plan to invest in a water pump for irrigating my 2-acre piece of land. I will set aside $450 for a Honda water pump because of its horsepower and ability to pump over long distances. This investment will allow me to cultivate vegetables during the dry season to provide for my family of 10. The remaining funds will go towards school fees for my children and reviving my retail shop to earn extra income. I will be excited to involve my wife, Jackline, in managing the shop to keep her engaged and contribute to our family's financial stability."