"I used to live with my family but due to lack of money to build a spacious house, my family separated with me. This has really caused loneliness to me . It is also had to provide food for my family because of the distance factor. Loneliness is the current challenge I am facing."

"I am a farmer as well as a casual laborer within the village. I own a half-acre piece of land that was given to me by my parents. I try to maximize this piece by making sure that I cultivate a bigger part of it. I have a family of six members depending on me for their daily needs. Due to low rainfall and a small piece of land, my yields usually range from 2 to 3 sacks in a year. This is too small to take us throughout the year. I sold a piece of land two years ago so that I would build a small house for my family. I am happy that I have this structure though my piece of land reduced. I have a plan to build a bigger decent house that can comfortably accommodate my fast-growing family. This dream can not be realized with scarce resources and overwhelming daily household needs. To me, receiving this money means a beautiful spacious house. I am planning to use KES 30000 to build an iron-roofed house. This will be our pride in the family. I will be happy to live like my neighbor and have my children all comfortable at home."

"Receiving this money means building a house for my family. I have a family of three members. We are all living in a one bedroom house with grass roof. The house lacks privacy for my two sons and I. During rains season, the roof leaks very much . That has caused pneumonia to one of my son. Wind has also affected us due to the leakages of the house. I will use KES 80000 to build a three bedroom house for the family. Every one will have his own room thus fostering privacy. I will also use KES 20000 to buy five goats as investment. The remaining KES 10000 will be used for food."

"I spent my recent transfers received from GiveDirectly to purchase building materials worth Kshs 5,000, labour expenses of Kshs 15000 and the balance I used to purchase bags of cement. Currently I am expanding my house and the construction is in progress. Initially I had a single room, being a parent of three children , the space could not accommodate all of us, and my first children have been spending the nights at my neighbor's house. With the expansion, each of my children will be having their own bedrooms.I am so grateful as my peace of mind will be finally restored."

"I am a housewife. My husband provides for most of our needs but he struggles a lot. Our children's payments are delayed and sometimes, they stay at home. It breaks my heart when this happens but I cannot do much. A small business would help boost our income."

"The wages I get from casual jobs cannot sustain my family. I can only afford to buy food. My child has been unwell. We treat her at home but she needs medical attention. I cannot afford it and that tears my heart apart."

"I am the kind of parent who values education. I will fight tooth and nail to ensure all my children have at least completed high school. At the moment, I just pay the little I get to the various schools they are in. I still have so much money to pay but I shall not give up until they finish. The biggest challenge is money."

"Currently I lack a stable job, me and my husband are working in quarry which is tiresome and for me I get sick all the time because of the dust. And I have developed chest problems, and my health is getting worse. We are not able to pay school fees for our six sons who are all at home now, and I am not sure when I will take them back to school, because I lack financial support. It's not easy providing food at home, we live with a big burden of debts from nearby shops, because we depend on quarry which is paying peanuts, and also salary doesn't come in time. This makes it tough to plan for my family needs."

"Since I was diagnosed with TB it has affected my whole social life, I cannot access medical services and medications because of lack of finances. Am hopeful that I can use the second transfer will help me get treated and continue living positively."

"Am grateful for this opportunity that give directly has accorded me. I have struggled as a single mother of seven for over fifteen years. I worked as a househelp in Mombasa for 5 years then moved to Ganze and worked as a casual labourer in Komaza. It's very tough balancing responsibilities as both their father and mother especially on matters on school fees, their daily food, clothing and even moral support. Upon receiving this first transfer, I plan to use part of it to do shopping for my 2 children, who have just finished their KCPE exam, and are planning to join secondary education. And I plan to pay school fees for elder daughter who is in form 4. On the second transfer I plan to, build one more room for my 4 sons , because according to our traditions I cannot share my house with them. It's not easy bonding with them because they only come during supper and leave as they are sharing a sleeping space with their cousins outside the compound."