In order to earn a living, some persons at risk of statelessness run private businesses. Those whom this study interacted with are self-employed as matatu (minibus) drivers, 174 carpenters, 175 traders, 176 kiosk (shop) owners, 177 interpreters, 178 mechanics, 179 hair dressers, 180 sculptors, 181 tailors, 182 farmers, 183 masons and fisher-folk. 184 Others survive on odd jobs. 185 Even so, it is not all persons at risk of statelessness who are lucky to engage in formal or self employment. Some could hardly gain access to the labour market. Christina shared her experience thus: My children cannot get IDs because they have Muslim names. I have eight children above 18 years and only three hold an ID. They [the ones without documentation] can not apply for jobs. They just sit. 186 When asked what the main challenges were owing to his status, Onik responded: ‘I cannot be employed’. 187 The prospects of some engaging in crime are real: My children cannot obtain IDs because they have Muslim names. They cannot get jobs and therefore they turn to illegal means of getting income … . 188 NGO officials also made this point. 189 Fortunately, support has come to some unemployed persons at risk of statelessness from relatives based overseas. Remittances by relatives overseas constitutes the largest financial inflow to a number of unemployed persons at risk of statelessness. Kazoni observes as follows: One of the reasons why many Nubians would like to obtain IDs is because it is one of the requirements for obtaining a passport. Once a Nubian succeeds in obtaining a passport, the next step is to look for an opportunity to work overseas, particularly in the Gulf region. Very few bother to seek employment in Kenya as they are sick of the discrimination they face in the country. They would rather go and sweat it out overseas. I know many Nubians in Kenya survive on remittances from friends and relatives overseas. 190 For instance, Ganesh. For instance, Tsepo, Hasan. 176 For instance, Ismael, Lerato, Nadira, Hadji. 177 For instance, Aissatou, Ines, Aisha. 178 For instance, Theodore. 179 For instance, Kader. 180 For instance, Mosidisi. 181 For instance, Malema. 182 For instance, Albert, Kwesi. 183 For instance, Nonto, Zama, Amelia, Sifiso, Jacob, Todil, Waly, Modibo. 184 Interview with Salim, Coast Province, 18 September 2009. 185 For instance, Sebuleni, Kganadi, Walter, Alain, El-Mouhoub, Doumbia, Schalk. 186 Interview with Christina, Western Province, 18 September 2009. 187 Interview with Onik, North Eastern Province, 17 September 2009. 188 Interview with Bintu, Nyanza Province, 14 September 2009. 189 Interview with Cheikh, Nyanza Province, 15 September 2009. 190 Interview with Kazoni, Nairobi Province, 1 October 2009. 174 175 32 OUT OF THE SHADOWS TOWARDS ENSURING THE RIGHTS OF STATELESS PERSONS AND PERSONS AT RISK OF STATELESSNESS IN KENYA