"The biggest hardship I have faced is lack of access to clean water during drought three years ago.I had to stop going for casual jobs to wait for the water vendors who again sold at very exorbitant rates not forgeting that people could also stampede on me as we scrumbled for the water."

"I have been living in an old house which was leaking and it was even worse during the rainy season as everything would get soaked with water. When I received my first transfers, I decided to spend part of it in buying building materials to use in building a house for my family and in paying the Marson. I spent part of the remaining amount in buying a dairy calf to since the two cows I had are the traditional ones and do not give enough milk. This cow will also act as an asset which I will use as a remembrance of GiveDirectly. I spent the remaining amount in buying maize seeds, fertilizers and in tilling my farm since it was planting season in my region and I had not even started preparing my land since I did not have any money. I also increased the size of my land under farming from one acre to two acres so as to increase my produce as I have a large family."

"The biggest hardship I have faced in life is lack of stable source of income.As a primary school pupil,I had to drop out of school to sell water and work in construction sites to raise my school fees and food.I would not wish my children to go through the same now that Iam a parent hence the desire to have my own business that would generate enough money to pay school fees,buy food and cater for other basic needs."

"The biggest hardship that I faced in life was lack of stable source of income. This was as a result of not having a stable job due to low level of education. My life has been a hustle and I engaged in all sorts of casual jobs such as selling water using a handcart, fish mongering, selling scrapes and burning charcoal. I struggled all along until I started a welding shop that has changed my life a bit."

"I spent my second transfer on purchasing a water pipe for an irrigation pump I bought with my first transfer.Initially I was foreman in a neighbor's farm and I had developed the desire of starting my own farm but lacked the resources. When I received my transfers I knew this was the time to start my water melon project. I also bought farm tools and other equipment to start me off. To improve my farming I bought pesticides and fungicides. I expect to have a bumper harvest."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I can now save the money which I would otherwise use in buying water and the ones I get from the sale of milk unlike before when I only used to spend them. This is because I was able to connect piped water and my cattle are now get enough water daily. This has led to increased milk production and I can now sell some of them and get some money to use."

"Burning charcoal and cutting firewood is my main source of livelihood. However, this very difficult to sustain my family because I earn very little from it. Apart from the low income, it also illegal to engage in these activities but I have to do them in order to fend for my children. My husband who sells water in Mombasa , supports me with only 500 shillings a month and this is also not enough. In most cases we are forced to go without food and I get traumatized seeing my children starving. I am also unable to respond to medical emergencies and educational needs for my children. Therefore, I consider financial constraint as my biggest hardship."

"From the day I received the transfers from GiveDirectly, my daily life has changed since I no longer go to fetch water on a daily basis as I now have a water tank unlike before. This has led me to dedicate most of my time on activities which earns me some money at end of the day."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have accumulated more savings in my merry go round group. This has completely changed my life as I recently completed a new home using the savings. I am so happy to have moved my compound closer to the road on our farm where I can easily access water points.Initially , the compound was located on the upper part of the farm which is very hilly. This made fetching water a laborious task. This has really made me a better person this year as I can go about my daliy business in convincing as I live aloong a bussy road.."

"Upon receiving my first transfer I bought building materials to help me build a kitchen that during the night acts as a room for my sons. I also bought a new set of sofas. Now my visitors can comfortably sit on when they visit me at home unlike before my visitors could sit on stools and water jerricans. The remaining amount I bought two cows and escorted them to my father-in-law as bridal price for my wife."