Candidate Verification Guidelines
Learn about our verification process and what it takes to get your profile verified
Why Verification Matters
Verified candidates receive a trust badge that appears on their profile, increasing voter confidence and engagement. Our verification process ensures that all candidates on Kiongozi are legitimate and meet basic profile quality standards.
Benefits of Verification:
- • Higher profile visibility in search results
- • Trust badge displayed prominently on your profile
- • Access to premium platform features
- • Increased voter engagement and credibility
Verification Criteria
Complete these requirements to qualify for automatic verification
Profile Photo
RequiredUpload a clear, professional photo of yourself. Avoid group photos, logos, or blurry images.
Complete Bio
Minimum 150 charactersWrite a bio of at least 150 characters explaining your motivation for running and your qualifications.
Contact Information
Email or PhoneProvide at least one valid contact method (email or phone number) for voter inquiries.
Position & Region
Both requiredSpecify the elective position you're running for and the exact region (county, constituency, or ward).
Unique Candidacy
Automatic checkYour candidacy must be unique - no duplicate registrations for the same position and region are allowed.
Account Age
Minimum 1 hourYour account must be at least 1 hour old before verification can be processed.
How Verification Works
Understanding our automated and manual review process
Instant Verification
Most candidates (approximately 70-80%) qualify for automatic verification when they complete their profile and meet all criteria with no red flags.
Timeline: Instant to 5 minutes
Once you complete all requirements, our system automatically checks your profile. If you pass all automated security checks, you'll be verified immediately.
Human Review
Some profiles require human review to ensure quality and authenticity. This happens when:
- • Multiple similar candidates exist for the same position and region
- • Profile content contains potentially sensitive or flagged keywords
- • Account shows unusual patterns or behavior
- • Risk score indicates potential concerns
Timeline: 1-2 business days
Our verification team reviews profiles during business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM EAT). You'll be notified via email once review is complete.
Common Reasons for Manual Review
Duplicate Detection
If another candidate exists for your exact position and region, both profiles require manual review to verify legitimacy.
Content Moderation
Bio or profile content containing potentially spam, offensive, or inappropriate keywords is flagged for human review.
High Risk Score
Accounts with patterns suggesting suspicious activity (multiple registrations from same IP, temporary email addresses, etc.) require verification.
Profile Quality Concerns
Photos that appear to be stock images, AI-generated, or low quality may trigger manual review to ensure authenticity.
Tips for Faster Verification
- Complete your profile fully in one session - the onboarding wizard guides you step-by-step
- Use a clear, recent photo of yourself against a plain background
- Write an authentic, personal bio explaining why you're running and what makes you qualified
- Provide a permanent email address (avoid temporary or disposable email services)
- Double-check that your position and region information is accurate
- Avoid copying content from other sources - write in your own words
- Be patient during business hours - our team reviews profiles as quickly as possible
Need Help?
You can check your verification progress anytime on your candidate dashboard. The verification checklist shows exactly which criteria you've met and what's still needed.