How western academic journals fleece scholars

Prof Ngugi wa Thiong'o with writer Stephen Ndegwa

Most cholars in Kenya boast of having been published in top-ranking journals, both open and non-open access. What majority are not aware about is that all the traditional model publishers have thrived on secret predatory practices; the most conspicuous one being acquiring the author's copyright, then making money from sales of these articles, leaving authors with only citations. Most well-established publishers forbid researchers from sharing journal articles they have authored via email. 

Initially, most of these publishers promise to share a certain percentage with the authors, but such promises do not come to be. In the words of Nick Hopwood, an Associate Professor at University of Technology Sydney, the only relationship between publishing and a scholar’s bank account is that they won’t get a job if they fail to publish.