"I currently live in a borrowed land and recently the landlord demanded that I pay for the two acre piece of land. Buying the land means that I will earn the freedom of doing anything in this piece of land. I am planning to use KES40,000 from the GiveDirectly transfers to pay for the 2 acre peace of land. Furthermore, my house burnt down a week ago and this has rendered me homeless. I was later forced to seek refuge in my small kitchen. I will therefore use a further KES30,000 to renovate my three bedroom house. Paying for the land and renovating my house will accord me the peace I have always desired to have."

"I am a local businesswoman and a mother of six children, when I received my transfer, I thought of building a decent house for my family, this is because the house that I was living in before was small and grass-thatched, It was not enough to contain the seven of us, therefore the transfer came as a big relief where I used KES 40,000 in constructing a house, I then used the remaining part money in buying foodstuffs and clothes."

"I fell sick five years ago and till now I have not recovered. My spinal cord is aching and I cannot stand upright.This has affected my job and made my family go without food. The sickness is the current challenge I am facing now."

"My family has been struggling financially given that we only rely on my husband's casual job in the village. The 'peanuts' he earns in the name of wages can not sustain my family given that he only earns KES1,800 a week. Receiving this money means I will be able to start a kiosk business in the village. The kiosk will cost me an initial capital of KES 50,000. I will be sourcing my commodities from the wholesale located in the neighbouring town and later sell in the village at a profit. The profits from the business added with the weekly wages my husband earns will be enough to sustain my family of four. I will use whatever remains from the GiveDirectly transfers to buy two indigenous dairy cows at a cost of KES 40,000. The milk produced will for domestic consumption and the surplus for sell."

"Since I closed my business, two years ago after I was involved in an accident, my family has gone without food for a long time. My husband is also jobless. This has forced us to take one meal per day. Lack of job is the challenge I currently face."

"Being married as a second wife comes with its challenges. Currently, my husband, who does masonry, focuses on the elder children of the first wife.My first born who is due to go to school has not started learning. I wish I could start a business to help me raise money for my children but this has not happened because of financial challenges. Our future is so gloomy that sometimes I wish I never married."

"School fees for my two children and two grandchildren has been a menace. Sometimes they are forced to spend like two weeks at home because of fees arrears. This situation has affected their performance in school and for some of them they have even lost hope in continuing with education. I did not go to school myself but I believe nowadays education is very important for any child to grow independent. Therefore, I feel bad when I see my generation is unable to get quality education like other children."

"We are a family of nine with the majority of my children still young. The house we live in is small and it leaks often during rainy seasons making it uncomfortable, cold, and unhealthy for my children sleeping on the floor. We have been thinking of constructing another bigger house that can accommodate all of us. Receiving this money, therefore, means this dream will through true. I plan to use KES 25,000. With the remaining amount, I will buy a dairy cow and some goats."