"I'm a widow and the sole provider for my family of 5. I own a small eating joint and use the income from it to provide for my family. I have saved up some cash and bought building materials but I haven't been able to build my family a bigger house yet. My current house is a one bedroom and a grass hut. My boys sleep in the kitchen and I sleep with the girls in the main house. I plan on using KES 30,000 if my first transfer to expand the house so that my children can have their own rooms to sleep in. Secondly I will pay school fees for my children for the next school term."

"I work as a charcoal vendor a job that is currently facing financial challenges and its income has not been good. The profit I usually get from this business which is normally 300 per day is all spent on food and I can not save anything for the future. With the help from GiveDirectly, I am planning to improve my business by adding my capital with 1500 KES every month for at least 5 months. This will mean more profit and hence, a better livelihood. On the other hand, this money will help me to buy food for the family and also to support my 4 children's education. Thus, this is generally what receiving this money means to me."

"Raising school fees for my two children and my daughter-in-law who are at college and university is our biggest hardship. This is because we have exhausted the livestock that we used to sell to gain income. In line with that, my daughter-in-law has been sent home to collect arrears yet we have no money. This worries me a lot because I would like to ensure that they pursue their studies without much disturbances."

"While washing my children’s clothes at around 9am, my phone rang in the house. I told my son to go for it and confirm what message had been received. My son came out running and I was astonished what the matter was only to say, “You have received some money from GiveDirectly.” Even though I don’t know how to read but the happiness I felt made me to tell him to show me the message so that I can see the money though I clearly knew there was nothing I could understand."

"As I was waiting for my breakfast for that I leave for my daily hustles so that I could get something to fend my young family, I received a message in my phone. I took it out from the pocket to see what the message was all about. To my surprise I saw KES 55000.00 from GiveDirectly, something I had totally forgotten about. I felt so happy receiving this huge amount of money and its impact was very positive. I got energized and left for the daily hustles very strong."

"The money came at the very time of need when my son was out of school due to school fees. I settled the fee balance of KES 9000.00 and he went back to school. I also bought a sewing machine for my daughter who is completing her tailoring course so that she can start a tailoring job. The sewing machine cost KES 10500.00. Looking at the house I am living in, it portrays a high level of poverty due to the condition it is; thus I decided to buy 20 pieces of iron sheets for KES 18000.00 so that I start building a good house. Currently the foundation is already complete thou I know the remaining amount won’t be enough to complete the whole house. My aim is at the point where I will stack due to lack of funds; I will pause and wait for the second transfer."

"The business I currently run is not enough to cater to all the needs. I mostly struggle to get food since my business is also struggling. I have few clients and some days I am forced to sleep on an empty stomach."

"I recently fractured my ankle as I was running after my goat which had lost its way. I was basking under a tree when I saw my goat go into a neighbors' farm. I quickly stood up and run after it, forgetting that my grandson was nearby and could run after it. I fall into a hole and the injury was quite painful. Thankfully my grandson came in time and took me to the hospital. I am scheduled for a second visit in December. I intend to use the transfer to cater to transportation of which is 1000 KES to and fro. I will be saving the other transfers, using them when I have an emergency and need medical help."

"Education has always been a priority for me, I consider it as an investment. Back in the day, our parents never valued education especially when it came to women. Women were to be married off and bear children. I am married as a second wife and I have seven children. Four girls and three boys, three of the girls are in primary school and I want to see to it that they get the best education I can afford. I do not want them to go through the same life I have had to endure and be married off at an early age. My cowife also has eight children, two of whom are still in school. We are both not working and we both depend on our husband who works as a Matatu driver in Mombasa. His income is not sufficient, and as a result, my children are constantly sent back home for school fees. It has become a norm and it does not please my heart."

"I plan to start a small scale business of selling vegetables, where I live no one sells vegetables and we have to go to the neighboring village to buy them. I feel for the elderly people since they cannot access the market easily, the roads are dusty and hilly. Starting this business in my compound will shorten the distance they have to make daily. I will be sending one of my children to Kaloleni twice a week to purchase the vegetables since I can not make the trips myself due to some health complications. This arrangement will ensure that my products will always be fresh and of different varieties."