Inside the world of Kenya’s ‘shadow scholars’ paid to write essays for UK students

In Kenya, a large number of educated young people are engaged in ghost‑writing academic work for overseas students. They are often referred to as shadow scholars because although they produce the written work, their names do not appear.
Many of the assignments cover advanced topics — mechanical engineering, nursing, quantum physics, literature, etc. Sometimes the Kenyan writers have to master unfamiliar subject matter on short deadlines.
The industry appears to be large: one estimate cited in recent reporting is about 40,000 ghost‑writers in Nairobi alone.
Kenyan writers often adopt Western‑style profiles or pseudonyms (white names, UK/US location) to appeal to clients abroad and hide their Kenyan origin.
Even though essay mills (commercial services offering to write essays for students) are banned in places like England (since 2022) the demand continues, and writers and intermediaries in Kenya continue to supply the work.
Why it happens (push & pull factors)
Pull factors (what draws the business)
Availability of educated graduates: Kenya has many young graduates with university degrees who struggle to find formal employment. As a result, the ghost‑writing industry offers an income stream.
English language competence: Because Kenya is English‑speaking (among other factors), Kenyan writers can serve English‑language assignments for EU/UK/US students.
Globalisation & digital connectivity: These writers are online, can bid for assignments, deliver via digital channels, and operate remotely from Nairobi.
Time‑zone advantages: Writers in Kenya can deliver work for clients in the UK/US by working overnight, meeting tight deadlines.
Push factors (why the writers go into it)
Lack of suitable formal employment or opportunities in Kenya for many graduates. They may have good qualifications but fewer job openings.
The income potential can be high relative to local salaries: some writers report earning what local doctors might make.
The flexible, remote nature of the work is attractive in a country where traditional employment may be limited.
How the business works
A student in the UK (or elsewhere) places an order for an assignment (essay, dissertation, thesis) via an online platform or ghost‑writing service.
The agency or platform allocates the work to a writer (often in Kenya). The writer researches and produces the paper according to client specifications, often under strict deadlines.
Writers often use false identities/profiles to appear as though they are based in the UK/US, to satisfy client expectations.
Payment: Writers receive payment for the completed assignment; fees vary widely (from less than £1 per page up to thousands of pounds for full dissertations) depending on subject, length, urgency.
Many writers work under heavy pressure — juggling multiple assignments, mastering unfamiliar topics, working long hours with little rest.
Ethical and societal implications
Academic integrity at stake: The system undermines the credibility of degrees and academic institutions when students outsource their work. As one comment in the research put it: There will be people who are graduating now as doctors, nurses and lawyers … getting their qualifications through Kenyan writers – and that to me is really the violence of it.
Invisible labour and recognition: The Kenyan writers are invisible — their intellectual labour underwrites the success of students abroad, yet they themselves remain unrecognised and uncredited. As one quote: They want our ideas. They just don’t want us.
Local opportunity cost: The fact that highly educated Kenyan youth are working under these conditions highlights local job/skilling mismatches. They might have degrees, but few local pathways.
Global inequality: The arrangement reflects global power dynamics — students in wealthy countries can buy credentials by outsourcing labour to workers in poorer countries, reinforcing inequities in education and labour.
Legal/regulatory grey area: While essay mills have been outlawed in some countries, the cross‑border nature of the industry, use of digital platforms, and anonymity make enforcement difficult. For example, essay mills were banned in England but contract cheating continues.
Key figures & findings
Estimate: ~40,000 ghostwriters operating in Nairobi alone.
Writers might earn similar income to domestic professionals (in Kenya) when they succeed.Subjects covered can span from technical (engineering, nursing, quantum physics) to humanities (Jane Austen, linguistics) and at levels from undergraduate to PhD dissertations.