A CBS investigation reveals a widespread practice among American college students outsourcing their academic work to Kenyan ghostwriters, who earn a significant income from this arrangement. This operation offers a comprehensive service, covering everything from paper writing to helping students achieve degrees, thriving particularly in the era of online education. Initially a service utilized by a daring few, it has now become a covert norm within student communities. Despite never attending American universities or even visiting the United States, these Kenyan ghostwriters exhibit an intimate understanding of American academic syllabi, equipped with the latest theoretical models and standard data, without the need for advanced laboratory facilities. The industry, which saw a division among countries like India, Kenya, Pakistan, and Morocco in early research, has notably consolidated in Kenya from 2006 to 2016. These companies, predominantly based in Kenya, disguise themselves as academic forums, facilitating international transactions behind vigorous debates online. They often misrepresent themselves as graduates from elite Western universities to gain trust, although their clientele is more focused on the quality of the work provided than the ghostwriters’ backgrounds.
Continue reading
