"It was around 9 AM when I was making breakfast when my phone started ringing so loudly. My son was using my phone at that particular time and he decided to check the contents of the messages. He later informed us that there is an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I was so excited because I knew my financial problems would come to an end. This still feels like a dream to me becasue in the first place I thought it was a scam receiving such a huge amount of the money which is non-refundable."

"I still remember when I saw the message notification. I was working on the farm, and at 11 a.m, I heard my phone beep. That's when I got curious and checked it. I was so happy when I saw that I had received the KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I finally had the money to buy a dairy cow, something I had wanted to do for a while now."

"Receiving this cash transfer has been a blessing because it has enabled me to meet my and my brother's needs. I am a high school student, who has just one school term to go. I, therefore, have no money to pay for my and my brother's fees, who is also in secondary school. However, this cash transfer has enabled me to do that. I am so glad that we now have a chance to complete our high school education."

"Before receiving this transfer, my family lived in a one-bedroom house, that could barely accommodate all five of us. There was no sense of privacy, which saddened me. Even though I wished things were different, I have no source of income and couldn't afford to change our circumstances. So I spent KES 30,000 on construction materials such as timber, iron sheets and bricks. I spent the rest of the amount on labour costs for the new house."

"The challenge that I am currently facing is health related. I have a skin condition that has really been a problem for over 20 years. I have sought medication in the past but lack of enough money has made the condition recur because I do not complete the dose required. A two weeks dose requires KES 5,850. The doctor has warned me against doing physical jobs and working in the sun since the condition gets worse. This has limited my income since most jobs here at home are of physical nature."

"Receiving this money makes me feel lucky because I have been wishing to find a piecework that will help me hearn a lot of money to buy food because it is what i am lacking and my kids doesn't hqve shoes, they are just walking barefoot."

"The challenge that I am currently facing is food insecurity due to the prolonged period of drought in our area. It has been three years since we received sufficient rains and got good harvest. My husband and I rely on charcoal production as the source of income for the household. The job is energy draining and there is no more big trees that you can produce quality charcoal so that you fetch good price. As a result one sac goes for KES 600 and in a month you earn KES 2400 which is not enough for a house hold of ten members. Due to this I have been struggling to meet daily meal for my family. Sometimes, they go to school without eating which affect their performance."

"I have always wanted an alternative source of income because the current one of selling charcoal is very involving and tiresome. Receiving this money will make my dream come true because I will use KES 15,000 to start a business of selling clothes. I will start the business at my shopping centre which is just a stone throw away. I believe the business will earn me better income compared to the charcoal one. We currently do not have a shop selling clothes in the shopping center and this is a gap that I would like to maximize. I will also budget around KES 20,000 to invest in goat farming."

"Yes, I would like to open up a small business with the money. This business will entail selling of vegetables and Omena. This business will help me greatly in ensuring that I can provide for my family in case any type of need arises. I am also looking forward to building a house for myself with the use of the funds."

"I am struggling to provide and feed my family since I am jobless and this has been stressing me since I have to worry everyday where my next meal will come from"