"Lack of a reliable source of income. I have been broking local brew ever since my retail business was cleaned by buglers. After that incident I decided to stop doing that line of business and buy a motorcycle for taxi business. It's this motorcycle that I currently use to ferry the alcohol from producers in the village to retailers in town. This has been feeding me and my children but can not pay school fees for the children who still need that."

"The challenges that we face are a continuous dry season and the unavailable source of milk for my family. I am forced to buy milk daily for the town for my children and this cost me so much, KES 40 a liter. Having a dairy cow will reduce the cost of buying milk and also be a source of income for us."

"When I get this money I would like to start a kiosk selling vegetables. I believe this line of business is exactly what this area needs. Right now people walk about five kilometres to the nearest market which is Ganze. Starting this business will save them the travel which affects the grand cost of acquiring the commodity. If I can get around 40000 KES, it would be enough for initial investment where I'll use my father's main house for a premise and the whole amount for stock and display racks. At the moment my husband is a motorcycle taxi rider in the village since the beginning of the year while I'm a cook at a local kindergarten. Both our earnings can only amount to 500 KES daily. It might be enough today but we have children who are attending school and soon enough, they'll be a bigger need for their school fees. This is why we need to create new sources of income."

"I have been sleeping on a small bed (3 by 6) for 15 years now with my wife. We have been persevering this condition because we could not afford to buy a big and decent bed to accommodate the two of us. Receiving this aid money from Give Directly means I buy a new bed and a mattress big enough for us and I believe through it we will be having the best nights and rest which we deserve. I will spend 15000 KES on this. 10000 KES will be spent on school fees for my daughter and the rest of the money will be spent on food."

"I got married in they year 2020 and my family is still young and lacking essential items like enough utensils, bedding and even a spacious house. I live in a small single-roomed house with grass thatched roof where I cook and sleep at the same time. I use firewood for cooking and this gets the whole house smoky during cooking time to a point of getting my 11-month baby out of her sleep. I have desired to build a better house but I cannot afford. My husband who is a teacher is our bread winner and his monthly salary is KES 5000. The whole of this money is spent on buying food and clothing leaving us with nothing at the end of the month. I plan to spend KES 30000 to build a 30-iron sheet house that is spacious enough for my young family. Receiving this money will enable my family to have a decent house to call home"

"My husband is 98-years and has not been feeling well for the past 3-years now and this has affected his mobility. He cannot walk on his own without being supported and this has forced me to be by his side every other time, denying me the chance of doing other productive activities. I have sold family assets like livestock to raise money for his medication but doctors have told me that nothing much can be done to salvage his situation because of his advanced age. His condition is getting us worried and I pray that he gets better"

"My husband is a solitary breadwinner in this family. He has to pay school fees for all school-going children, settle hospital bills as well as buy food for the family. This makes him being over depended on by the family."

"Putting food on the table is my main challenge currently. Lack of rain has made my life hard as I mostly depend on farming. Lack of school fees. My three children are in primary school and they need fees. The money I get cannot buy food for them as well as pay their school fees."

"Financial problems have really been weighing me down. I have been studying and raising my two children at the same time. As I await my graduation, I have no source of income. I am a volunteer teacher in a neighboring school and I get an allowance of 10,000 KES. This is barely enough to cater for my needs and that of the children. Sometimes my children get sick but I lack money for their medication. Such needs together with the basic needs are currently my biggest challenges."