"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."

"I am a mother of six, and to provide for my family of eight, I engage in subsistence farming and sell vegetables while my husband works as a fisherman. The support we've received from GiveDirectly has been a lifeline. The most recent three transfers amounting to $102 have been crucial for us. I carefully allocated the money to meet our immediate needs and secure our future. Firstly, I used $23 to pay the examination fees for my four primary school children. Education is their path to a better future, and I wanted to ensure they could sit for their exams without any obstacles. Then, I spent $20 on food, ensuring that my family had enough to eat and could focus on their daily activities without the worry of hunger. As a farmer, I mostly rely on irrigation due to the lack of rains in our region. To keep my vegetable crops growing and my farm productive, I used $34 to buy petrol for the generator that pumps water to my farm. This investment is crucial to maintaining our income from vegetable sales. With the remaining $25, I bought a small goat to add to the five I already had. This goat is not just an animal; it's an investment in our future. As the herd grows, it will become a valuable asset that can help us cover expenses and provide for our family in times of need."

"Food insecurity is the biggest challenge because of unpredictable rain patterns. We hardly harvest anything when we depend on the rain for farming because it is not sustainable at the same time practicing irrigation farming is expensive because the source of water is five kilometers. I currently do a motorbike taxi to ensure my family does not lack anything."

"Since I'm not allowed culturally to live near my parents, I plan to purchase a piece of land. It will cost approximately $300. On this land, I will build a one-roomed house plus a small space for a shop attached to it. I have already purchased enough iron sheets and wood. This means I will only need nails, cement and the services of a carpenter. It will only require an additional $200. When I finally have my own home, I'll be comfortable and proud of myself. My wife will also run the shop business while at home. I'll buy her stock worth $200. The profits will help buy food or help purchase clothes for our child. Farming does well here, especially due to the hot climate and availability of water for irrigation. This is an opportunity to make easy money. Will spend the rest of the transfer on farming. I will start small, that's doing vegetable farming."

"My plan for this year and the years to come is to increase the number of goats I have. In this area, farming is not possible due to the harsh climatic conditions and severe drought. We don’t have a reliable water source for irrigation, so the only viable agricultural activity is goat farming, which thrives here. I plan to save money from my casual jobs so that I can buy a goat once in a while. I believe that by doing this, I will be able to sustain my family with enough food and have resources to handle emergencies."

"Lake Baringo has been extending over the last decade, and we lost our farm land. Due to this, we moved to higher ground which is less fertile. It's rocky and no access to river or lake water for irrigation. This has affected my ability to provide food for my family. The persistent drought means zero yields for us. We no longer farm. I depend on manual jobs such as planting, harvesting or weeding farms. Farming is costly due to the massive piping and huge pumps needed to pump lake water. Outsiders have come to the village and do farming giving us manual jobs. They pay $3.50 per day, and we hardly find these jobs. This has affected our ability to buy food. We hardly have two meals a day."

"Our village together with surrounding villages have the advantage of being positioned close to Lake Baringo. With sufficient water, farmers grow tomatoes through irrigation. This has become a source of our livelihood since we earn income through providing casual labor in these farms. I am happy because I earn a daily income($3) to buy food for my family."

"In the upcoming year, my main goal is to finish digging the borehole I'm currently working on. Once completed, this borehole will provide a reliable water source for irrigation, enabling me to grow vegetables even during dry periods. This consistent water supply will ensure year-round crop harvests, providing a stable food source for my family and surplus produce to sell. While working on this project, I imagine a future where my small farm flourishes and I can secure a steady income."

"My happiness over the past 6 months came from the current rains we have received. Despite the fact that the rains brought flood water that destroyed our houses and farms, I was really delighted because of the fact that we will have a chance to do farming since we depend on irrigation to grow crops. In addition to this, the coming of the rains has enabled us to grow vegetables further reducing our burden of purchasing food which has made me so happy."

"We live near Lake Baringo, the lake has been expanding over the last decade. Due to this, we lost our farming land. Lacking or being forced to borrow land to plant crops has affected our ability to provide food for our family. The space we have now is not conducive for farming because of the long drought seasons. Inadequate of water also means we cannot do irrigation here like besides the lake."