When Kenyans overwhelmingly endorsed the 2010 Constitution, one word carried the hopes of millions, it was devolution. For long neglected regions, it promised roads where dust once ruled, clinics where mothers had despaired, and schools closer to forgotten villages. In many respects, devolution has delivered. Health facilities have mushroomed in rural landscapes, bursaries have reached students who might never have stepped into class, and local leaders have gained platforms once monopolised by the elite.
However, devolution has also revealed its jagged edges. What was meant to cure marginalisation has at times entrenched local fiefdoms, where governors are kings and county assemblies serve as their loyal courtiers. Billions are lost to ghost projects, inflated tenders, and politics that often places tribe above service. The dream of devolution remains alive, but its promise still dances on a knife’s edge between empowerment and plunder.
/* Container styling */
.fade-out-overlay {
position: absolute;
top: -80px;
left: 0;
width: 100%;
height: 60px;
z-index: 1;
background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0), rgba(255, 255, 255, 1));
}
.paywall-container {
position: relative;
max-width: 100%;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 25px;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
background-color: #ffffff;
}
.paywall-container h2 {
text-align: center;
display: none;
}
.paywall-container a {
text-decoration: none !important;
}
/* Header styling */
.paywall-header {
font-size: 24px;
font-weight: bold;
margin-bottom: 15px;
color: #333333;
text-align: center;
}
/* Price highlight */
.price-highlight {
font-size: 20px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #d40511;
/* Red color similar to MailOnline */
margin: 15px 0;
text-align: center;
}
.price-highlight .original-price {
text-decoration: line-through;
color: #777777;
margin-right: 0px;
}
/* Divider line */
.divider {
border-top: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
margin: 20px 0;
}
/* Subscribe button */
.subscribe-button {
display: block;
width: 100%;
padding: 12px;
background-color: #d40511;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 25px;
font-weight: bold;
cursor: pointer;
margin-bottom: 20px;
transition: background-color 0.3s;
text-decoration: none;
}
.subscribe-button-green {
/* display: block; */
width: 50%;
padding: 12px;
background-color: #EE193A !important;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 25px;
font-weight: bold;
cursor: pointer;
margin-bottom: 20px;
transition: background-color 0.3s;
text-decoration: none;
}
.subscribe-button:hover {
background-color: #b0030e;
text-decoration: none;
}
/* Features list */
.features-list {
margin: 20px 0;
padding-left: 20px;
list-style: none;
}
.features-list li {
margin-bottom: 10px;
list-style-type: none;
position: relative;
padding-left: 25px;
list-style-type: none !important;
}
.features-list li:before {
content: “✓”;
color: #d40511;
position: absolute;
left: 0;
font-weight: bold;
}
/* Existing subscriber link */
.existing-subscriber {
text-align: center;
color: #555555;
font-size: 14px;
}
.existing-subscriber a {
color: #d40511;
text-decoration: none;
}
.existing-subscriber a:hover {
text-decoration: underline;
}
Unlock the Full Story — Join Thousands of Informed Kenyans Today
Subscribe Today & Save!
Unlock the Truth Now 》
Unlimited access to all premium content
Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience
Mobile-optimized reading experience
Weekly Newsletters
MPesa, Airtel Money and Cards accepted
Already a subscriber? Log in to pay
5 for this article
Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp
By Ndong Evance