"The challenges that I am facing is shortage of food. I rely on casual jobs to find money so I can provide for my children. It is never enough for my family to have the recommended three meals a day. Most times we just eat once a day which affects our health and productivity."

"I have been saving some money with an intention of building our own house. Receiving this money will mean that I will be able to actualize my plans. I intend to use KES 30,000 to build a house for my family because we do not own one of our own. I will also open a salon and cosmetic shop so that I can be independent and also have a source of income for our family. I plan to spend KES 30,000 to buy a cow since I sold the one we had because we needed money to buy timber for building our house."

"Our country's economy of late has been bad and this has impacted me highly in terms of finances. I am a farmer, I sell vegetables (cabbages) to business people in our area so that I can earn something. The money that I earn is not sufficient in feeding and educating my children. I have 2 children in their final year of school and paying for their education is so expensive and the amount of income that I get cannot enable me to pay the fees comfortably."

"Well i spend my money on buying livestock e.g cows and goats, which i do rear at my home. In times of need i do sell some and attend to my needs. I also built a house that i stay in today since i previously did not have a good house due to its poor condition. I also paid my childrens school fees and they are currently in school learning without any disruptions. I used a portion of the money to buy food fo my family."

"The current challenge I face is lack of fencing for my land. My neighbours keep livestock, they sometimes allow their animals invade my farm destroying plants.This has lead to poor harvests."

"Receiving this money mean food security for my family. Besides my my son whom I rely on being jobless, he has a family of five children . We have had a couple of days going without food. Am of age (60 years) and sickly. With KES 3000, I will buy a sack of maize which can run for two months. I will be directing the rest of the cash in providing my basic needs including covering my medication since I suffer from hypertention."

"Due to financial constraints ,we were able to aquire a 20m by 20m piece of land for construction of two small structures one for my family and the other for my mother-in-law. The house we constructed (3m by 4m) does not grant us privacy since I have four children with the first born turning twelve this year. The transfers I will get from GiveDirectly will enable me add two more room, one for the male children and another for female children. With a saving of KES 1500 a month, this can be successful within six months."

"I have been relying on charcoal burning for my livilihood. Apart from the the land being deforestated the market is another challenge.I have been praying to get capital so as to start buying and selling of goats on market days but in vain. GiveDirictly has come right on point. I will spend my transfers in this business. Especially during this dry season, goats are cheaply sold. With KES 3000 a month, I can buy two goats and sell at a profit of KES 500 each. I will use the profit realised to provide basic needs for my family of six."

"I have struggled in darkness for years. Recently I took a solar panel on credit, demanding payment of KES 55 each day (which accummulates to KES 1650 a month).I have not been able to pay daily leaving us in darkness for a couple of days.The first transfers will help me clear the solar payments. Meanwhile, will be saving a approximately KES 400 a month in a table banking which will eventually help in renovation of my house which lacks windows."

"With the drought feeding my family has been a challenge, with my eldest child in secondary school, it has become even worse because I channel almost all my earnings towards his education. As a man, it breaks my heart to be in a position where I cannot take good care of my family."