This archive report was first published on 22 October 2019.
As of 2019, a thriving global industry has emerged, with Kenyan ghostwriters earning a handsome income by completing academic projects and assignments for university students in the United States and the United Kingdom.
According to a report by the BBC, published on October 22, 2019, this industry has grown to a staggering $1 billion (approximately Sh100 billion) globally, with many Kenyans, primarily university students and unemployed graduates, capitalizing on the opportunity to make a living.
One in seven graduates have reportedly paid someone else to do their work, highlighting the industry's lucrative nature.
Vanessa, a Kenyan ghostwriter, described the relationship between students and writers as 'symbiotic', where students pay for the work due to their laziness and financial means, while writers like her are willing to work for the money.
Vanessa noted that students often leave their tasks to writers, who then complete the work for a fee, with some writers earning up to Ksh. 60,000 per task.
John, another Kenyan ghostwriter, attributed his entry into the industry to unemployment, stating that academic writing has become his full-time job after struggling to find employment after completing college.
John revealed that writers can earn a minimum of $2000 (approximately Ksh. 20,000) every two weeks from multiple accounts, with some writers earning up to $50 per page for academic writing.
While there is no law prohibiting ghostwriting, critics have described the practice as unethical, amounting to 'cheating'.
