"There is no form of privacy and self-worth when a mother shares a roof with two of her teenage children. My immediate plan is to build a new house and leave the other one to my children. Roughly, it will cost me 30,000 KES. By having a different house, I believe my self-respect will be regained."

"The only store of wealth for me is venturing into livestock keeping because once a need arises, I can comfortably sort it out. This has been my greatest desire but due to lack of money, it has never come to reality. Since GiveDirectly has reached my household, I am very optimistic about realizing this dream and to start with, I only need 5 goats which will cost me 15000 KES. This means I will spend my first 5 months' transfers to make this possible. The remaining transfers will cater to other basic needs like food and clothes since I do not have anyone to depend on."

"I have for a long time imagined the happiness and comfort that comes with sleeping on a modern bed and a mattress. This wish has never materialized due to financial constraints and I have always spent my nights on a roped bed and sacks. With the grant from GiveDirectly, my hope is awakened and I plan to break the status quo and live a joyful life. To ensure this comes to reality, I only need 20000 KES to buy the beddings and this means saving my transfers to raise this cash. The remaining transfers will cater to other basic needs like food and clothing. Receiving this money, therefore, means raising my living standards."

"Imagine seeking shelter in my mother-in-laws' kitchen because my house collapsed 8 months ago! This situation has brought me shame and I have desired to construct my house to earn back my lost dignity. My husband has already bought 15 pieces of iron sheets but he has failed to construct the superstructure due to lack of money. I need about 30000 KES to offset this plan. To ensure this comes to reality, I intend to be saving my first 10 months' transfers. This will cater to all the expenses of constructing the house. Receiving this money, therefore, means restoring my lost dignity for lacking privacy."

"Meeting our very basic needs like food, clothing and nice beddings are what I struggle with most. Imagine forfeiting some meals and surviving on one meal a day. This has resulted in the deteriorating health of my children something that never gives me peace. Hence, I consider the financial constraint as the main challenge that I am currently facing."

"Expanding my livestock business and repairing my house are among my top priorities. To ensure these are achieved, I intend to invest my monthly transfers, utmost 2000 KES every month in the livestock business for a whole year. This will assure me of a high profit, to aid in repairing my house. The other transfers will support my children's education, also, it will cater to my family's very basic needs like food and clothing. Therefore, this is generally what receiving this money means to me."

"At the moment, financial constraint is what I struggle with most. This is because I work as a charcoal vendor, a job that is not reliable because of the scarcity of trees in our area. In a month, I make only 2000 KES and this comes with the stress of how to share it with my 5 children in school and also to support us for food. Hence, I consider this as the main challenge that I am currently facing."

"Lately, I have been feeling very low. My family has so many unmet needs. My children do not have decent clothes, I do not have a job since Covid took a toll on us. We struggle to get food and on more than one occasion have gone to bed hungry. I hope things will look up soon."

"With old age, I can only support my granddaughter using the money I get from Inua Jamii Cash transfer, a programme that supports the elderly and vulnerable. I have since accumulated fee areas amounting to 5000 KES. Getting a certificate means clearing all the fee balance in school. This is a hindrance to getting her certificates now that she is in her last year in primary school."

"My fourth-born daughter finished primary school and I could not afford to take her to secondary. She has a passion for tailoring. In the local polytechnics, fees are not as exorbitant. I have some money saved and I am short of just KES 10,000. In three months, I can afford to get her enrolled in the course so that those skills can help her start a business and earn some decent money to cater to her child."