Although remittances have rescued a number of persons at risk of statelessness from poverty, it is not a long term solution. If this mode of support is to bear any dividend, these resources would need to be invested in long term projects. The current global financial turmoil, which has caused the reduction of the level of remittances,191 further reduced the level of support received by persons at risk of statelessness residing in Kenya. One possibility is that persons at risk of statelessness should seek support from financial institutions. the challenge here though is that lending institutions require generally an ID to open an account and/or advance money. Lack of access to loans from banks and other financial institutions was a major source of concern. Just under onehalf (31; 46%) of the persons at risk of statelessness who participated in this study stated that it was impossible to obtain any form of support from financial institutions in Kenya. In the words of Omar: I am not able to put my money in a bank because I have no ID. I cannot save on behalf of my children even when I have a kibarua (casual job). 192 Eric also observed that, although her mother is hardworking, her ‘efforts were thwarted because she [could] not save’. 193 According to some, banking and financial services are for ‘Kenyans’. 194 Seven officials (16%) who had interacted with persons at risk of statelessness affirmed this state of affairs. They ‘can not access micro finance and loans’, according to officials working with human rights NGOs. 195 Unfortunately, even local support groups, which normally lend money to members, require an ID to join: It [refusal to be given an ID] is a human rights abuse. We would like development but cannot achieve it. We cannot join any of the women’s groups as we do not have an ID. Women groups get support from the Government, but we don’t benefit from such support because we cannot be allowed to be members [of such groups] since we have no ID cards. I cannot join women savings and credit cooperative societies or organizations and get loans. 191 See Dilip Ratha, Sanket Mohapatra and Ani Silwal, Outlook for Remittances Flows 2009-2011: Remittances Expected to Fall by 7-10 percent in 2009, available at: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/ INTPROSPECTS/Resources/334934-1110315015165/Migration&DevelopmentBrief10.pdf (accessed 30 October 2009). 192 Interview with Omar, Coast Province, 14 September 2009. 193 Interview with Miriam, Coast Province, 15 September 2009. 194 Interview with Eric, Coast Province, 15 September 2009. 195 Interview with Davide, Coast Province, 18 September 2009; Interview with Fauz, Coast Province, 18 September 2009. 196 Interview with Nonto, Coast Province, 15 September 2009. 197 Interview with Miriam, Coast Province, 15 September 2009. 198 Interview with Hadji, Coast Province, 14 September 2009. 33 OUT OF THE SHADOWS TOWARDS ENSURING THE RIGHTS OF STATELESS PERSONS AND PERSONS AT RISK OF STATELESSNESS IN KENYA