Larry Madowo's controversial NGO documentary goes to Netflix

The documentary, which Larry jumped on to years after production had began, details the effects of a US nonprofit 'GiveDirectly' which sends money to a village in Nyanza, Kenya, every month to uplift the living standards of the poor in the area.

According to their website, GiveDirectly allows donors to ''send money directly to people in poverty with no strings attached''.

The website also says "We believe people living in poverty deserve the dignity to choose for themselves how best to improve their lives — cash enables that choice."

The producers of the documentary, titled 'Free Money' delved into the psychological effects of converting an entire Kenyan village into dependents of free money every end of the month, and how the phenomenon affects, positively or negatively, the society.

While sharing the news of the documentary's Netflix launch, Larry tweeted, "Is it OK for an American NGO to run a cash experiment on poor Africans?" 

"Our documentary “Free Money” filmed over 5 years launches on Netflix today! See what happens when everyone in a Kenyan village receives free cash every month."

From the trailer, a GiveDirectly female employee is seen speaking to villagers in the 'dholuo' language, telling them that they will be recieving $22 (approx Ksh.3,000) for the next 12 months.

The experiment, pegged on the 'universal basic income' concept, has recieved much flak from critics and media analysts, with many castigating the concept of simply sending someone free money every month simply because they're 'poor'.

Villagers, however, seem to be elated over the concept, as the film shows an animated village, spurred by free cash sent into their mobile banking accounts. 

"Infact we don't refer to God anymore, we refer to GiveDirectly!" one woman says.

'Free Money', directed by acclaimed filmmaker Lauren DeFilippo, was also premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to critical acclaim. 

In June 2023, GiveDirectly suspended all its active operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where at least $900,000 (approx. Ksh. 130 million) was allegedly stolen by staff or former workers in a large-scale fraud that penetrated every department of the country office.

The fraud involved GiveDirectly staff stealing SIM cards that impoverished households were meant to use to receive mobile money transfers from the nonprofit organisation.

More than 1,700 families in DRC’s South Kivu province were impacted by the fraud scheme, which started in late August 2022 when the group began cash transfers there.