"Currently it's dry season, and the rains are not much, we don't have major challenges. But when it starts to rain am worried because water comes from uphill and floods my entire compound . Also the seeds that we can use to plant are now so expensive due to scarcity. We buy a kilogram of beans for sowing at $2 yet initially we used not buy them."

"The second transfer is $450 came at a time that I had two of my children joining junior secondary school and secondary school at the same time. I therefore used at least $200 to pay their school fees in full and settled them in school. Had we not received this transfer then we would have been forced to go borrowing some money from a table banking group in which I am part of and later pay back the same in instalments. I then used another $120 to buy food and clothes for my family. We have been facing a serious prolonged drought over the recent past which has rendered our farms quite unproductive. Receiving this money and using it to buy food was such a great relief for me and my six children who look up to me to meet the basic household needs and other wants for them. It was also an opportunity for me to start up a business and we came together with my sister who also received a transfer and started a small business at a nearby center. We right now have a small business to run where we operate a shop and an Mpesa shop as well. Here we make up to $60 per month as profit which we are so much proud of. It is something I have never done in my life and which has even motivated me to dream more and achieve more."

"My husband was ill for four years before he passed away, and we visited many hospitals which depleted our livestock investment and forced us to sell a plot of land we owned in a nearby shopping center. Life has been difficult since his death, and as a single mother of seven, I've struggled to provide even one meal a day. Fortunately, I received a cash transfer from GiveDirectly, which allowed us to have enough food in our home. I used the most recent transfer of money to buy a $65 sack of maize for food, paid $146 in overdue tuition for my son who attends a technical polytechnic school and paid for my other son's remedial charges in primary school. In the past, I relied on selling seasonal mango fruits from my farm, but it wasn't enough to cover all of our expenses. I also used $30 of the remaining money to finish constructing a pit latrine. I started with the first transfer, and I paid $25 for labor to demolish and transport materials from the plot my husband and I had built on. I saved the rest of the money to buy food and household items."

"I'm 69 years of age and my wife is also 65 years. We have both lived together and have 5 children who live in different parts of the country. My spouse and I produce crops each year for sustainability. but I'm not strong enough to continue the hard work. My third transfer was spent on getting enough foodstuffs for the house. The remaining money we brought one bundle of zinc to complete the previous zinc we bought early for our new home."

"I want to see myself as the best farmer in the entire town. I'm about to produce enough crops on two acres of land. In the near future, I will expand it and add a variety of crops for sustainability and other income."

"I wasn't fortunate to acquire higher education because of financial constraints. So I'm trying very hard to see that my children acquire a quality education to reach to where I wasn't fortunate to acquire."

"Despite the negative impact of drought, which has destroyed a significant portion of our farm produce, I have been depending on subsistence farming, which I intend to enhance in the coming year. As soon as the rain begins, I plan to rent more land, prepare it for planting, and grow maize. The maize will serve as a source of food for my family and an additional surplus to sell, generating income to cover household expenses and pay for my children's school fees."

"My long-standing goal of fencing my parcel of land has always been hindered by my financial situation and physical limitations. However, thanks to the transfer I received, I was able to allocate $350 towards achieving this goal, which will not only improve my living standards but also protect me from the dangers of wild animals at night. The remaining funds were spent on purchasing foodstuffs, which has significantly improved my energy levels and overall well-being. I am optimistic about the future and believe that with the help of GiveDirectly, I can continue to make positive strides toward a better life."

"GiveDirectly has consistently treated us with great respect since they began their operations in our area. Their approach involved significant community engagement, which was impressive. The field officers emphasized the unconditional nature of the transfer and conducted themselves in an exemplary manner. It was beneficial that the project granted us greater independence, as we received our funds directly into our Mpesa wallet."

"The burden of school fees hindered me from achieving my goal of providing my family with essential items. I had to forego many luxuries and prioritize paying for my children's education. My husband works as a teacher, and with six children still living with us, we relied solely on his income as my health condition rendered me unable to work. However, after receiving the funds, I was able to purchase two goats worth $100 and a $100 cupboard for our home. I also paid $100 for my children's school fees and used the remaining money to purchase food supplies, which was previously difficult due to financial constraints. I cannot fully express my overwhelming happiness and gratitude for this opportunity, which has significantly improved our standard of living."