"The first thing I did when I received the transfer was put down a $170 deposit on half an acre of land, priced at $550. I had already paid $180 from the first transfer, so I’m getting closer to owning the plot. The place we currently live floods every rainy season, so buying this land means a safer home for my family. I also spent $126 on iron sheets, which I’ll use to build a new house on the land once I finish paying for it. Having a proper house will make a big difference for us, especially since we’ve dealt with so many problems during the rainy seasons. In addition, I leased another half-acre for $40 to grow beans, which will help us secure food and income in the coming months. I feel more hopeful knowing that I can plan ahead like this. With $30, I bought food staples, including maize, to keep us going for now. I’ve also set aside the remainder of the money to cover plowing and irrigation for the upcoming planting season. Every bit of planning is helping me secure a better future for my family. I am grateful for these opportunities because, with these steps, I believe we are finally moving toward a more stable and comfortable life."

"One thing they did really well was advising us on how to take care of our mobile money and keep our PIN secure. They explained clearly how important it is to avoid sharing our PIN with anyone, and that guidance gave me confidence to manage my money safely. Everything was well explained, so I always knew what to do at each step. GiveDirectly also told us from the beginning that they would send us money three times, and they have kept their promise without fail. Each time the money arrived exactly when they said it would, which helped us plan better. Knowing that the funds would come on time made a big difference in how I managed my expenses. So far, everything has gone just as they said, and I appreciate that they followed through on their word. With all these in place, there is nothing that I see that should be changed in the program."

"When I received the unconditional cash transfer, I immediately put it to good use on my farm. I used $50 to plough an acre of land and $12 to make ridges, preparing the soil for planting. Knowing watermelons are easy to maintain and have a high yield, I spent $90 to buy quality watermelon seeds. To ensure a healthy crop, I also purchased herbicides and pesticides for $16, and when the melons began growing, I paid $40 for weeding. Watering the farm was another challenge, but I managed to refill my two gas cylinders for $26, which I used to run a generator and pump water to the farm. This way, I could keep the crops well-irrigated. I left the remaining amount at the agrovet, so if I need anything else for the farm, I can simply pick it up without worrying about immediate payments. This cash transfer has really helped me get my farm up and running, and I’m hopeful for a great harvest soon."

"In the upcoming year and beyond, my plan is to open my own sewing shop. I’ve already ordered a machine from Mombasa and paid for it using the savings I accumulated through our merry-go-round group. With my coursework complete, I’m ready to launch the shop, which will provide an income to support my family. I also plan to rent a nearby space and stock additional items to sell alongside my tailoring services. I’ve purchased the sewing machine and am currently awaiting its arrival. Once it arrives, I will open the shop and start this new chapter. I'm truly grateful to GiveDirectly for their support, which has renewed my optimism in achieving this goal. Additionally, I plan to invest in farming tools, including a bull for ploughing, and I’m saving for this through the same merry-go-round group. I am optimistic about achieving my goals before the transfers come to an end."

"I have a wife at home, but, well, I haven’t paid her dowry yet. It’s something that’s been weighing on me for a while now. You know, it’s not that I don’t want to—I do. I want to honor her family and make everything official. But, life… life hasn’t been easy. Right now, where we’re staying, every time it rains heavily, we’re on edge because of the flooding. I plan that once the tomatoes I planted are ready, I’ll sell them off and use the money to buy a small piece of land. That’s my ticket to moving out of this place and into somewhere better—somewhere safe. After that, I’ll keep planting, keep working hard. Once we’re settled and life feels a bit more stable, I’ll finally take the step I’ve been meaning to take for a while. I’ll pay the dowry which is important to all of us and I want to do it right, make our marriage official in the way it should be. We’ve been through a lot together, and I want to honor her properly."

"I used $380 of it to buy a plot that costs $610 for half an acre. This was an important step for me because the land I had before was destroyed during the floods, and I didn't want to stay there, given the future risks. The 1.5 acres I already have will be left for farming, which is a good way to ensure my family’s food supply and some income. With some of the remaining money, I paid $20 to cover my daughter’s school fees for Grade 2. She had some arrears, and I wanted to make sure she could stay in school without any interruptions. Education is really important to me, and I am trying my best to ensure all my children stay in school. The rest of the money, $40, was used to buy clothes for my children and my wife because many of their clothes were damaged during the floods. I used the remainder of the money to buy household food items to make sure we had enough to eat. This cash transfer has really helped us rebuild after the flood and start planning for a more stable future."

"Since my husband passed away two years ago, I’ve had to take on the full responsibility of covering our children’s school fees, clothing, food, and other essentials. The house was already in poor condition when he passed, and it’s been a struggle to meet all their needs with the limited profits from my charcoal business. With the recent increase in the cost of basic commodities, the situation has become even more difficult. My children were often sent home for unpaid fees, so I decided to dedicate all my transfers toward paying their school fees. Renovating the house is my second priority. Although I replaced the roof, the house is still unsafe as the cracked walls let in insects and rain. My immediate goal is to rebuild the walls, and I plan to save $4 each month to buy construction materials. I can’t save more than that right now due to other basic needs. Once my children finish their education, I intend to invest in goat and chicken rearing projects. These projects will generate more income, as they multiply when well taken care of, increasing their financial value. I'm confident that once these projects are established, they will provide security. In case of a financial crisis, I’ll be able to sell some animals to support my family."

"Moving forward, my primary focus is to use my transfers to help my child, who has a deformed leg. I am determined to ensure that he receives the necessary medical attention so that he can have a good leg and enjoy a normal life like other children. In addition to my child's medical care, I plan to use part of the transfers to buy goats. My hope is that these goats will multiply and increase in number over time. I then intend to trade some of the goats for cows, which I can train to help plow my farm. In the future, I may be able to sell some of the cows as they multiply and use the proceeds to fund my children's education. I am excited to see these plans come to fruition with the help of the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly, and I am hopeful that I will be able to provide my children with the best possible opportunities."

"My plan for the coming year is to plant beans on 2 acres of land within the Eldume Irrigation Scheme. You know, it's the perfect time to plant beans—the conditions are ideal, and the scheme has provided us with good, quality seeds. I'm really hopeful that this will turn out well. If everything goes as expected and I get a good harvest, I can sell the beans at $100 per bag. That money would be a huge help, especially when it comes to paying school fees. I have eight children, you see, and two of them are in secondary school now. The costs are really starting to add up. I’ve been managing to pay their fees by selling my cows. It’s not easy, and I’m now down to just one cow, which I’m keeping mainly for milk to feed my family. But I can’t keep selling livestock forever. That’s why I’m really banking on this new source of income from the beans. If all goes well, I won’t have to keep sacrificing what little livestock I have left. It’s my way of securing a more stable life for all of us."

"Financial constraints are the greatest challenge. Both my husband and I rely on casual jobs to earn a living, it is not sustainable because what we earn only meets our basic needs halfway through. We borrow loans to be able to pay school fees for our children and repay slowly. If we had a better source of income our lives would have been better."