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How We Score Candidates

Every V-Score is built on publicly verifiable evidence, weighted indicators, and constitutional principles grounded in the Constitution of Kenya 2010. Here is exactly how it works.

What is the V-Score?

The V-Score is a composite rating from 0 to 100 that measures how well a candidate meets constitutional leadership and integrity standards for public office. It is calculated from 80 indicators across 5 pillars, each grounded in provisions of the Constitution of Kenya. Every indicator is weighted, traceable to a named source document, and independently verifiable. A higher score indicates stronger alignment with constitutional public service values.

Framework Architecture

The V-Score framework is structured as a three-level hierarchy: 5 Categories → 20 Subcategories → 80 Indicators. Each category carries a different weight reflecting its significance in constitutional leadership assessment.

Category Weight Distribution

Character & Integrity 35%
Institutional Accountability 25%
Public Engagement & Inclusivity 15%
Policy Development & Strategic Vision 12.5%
Professional Experience & Competence 12.5%
Category (Pillar) Weight Subcategories Indicators
1. Character and Integrity 35% 4 16
2. Institutional Accountability & Transparency 25% 4 16
3. Public Engagement and Inclusivity 15% 4 16
4. Policy Development and Strategic Vision 12.5% 4 16
5. Professional Experience and Competence 12.5% 4 16
Total 100% 20 80

Scoring Formula

Scores cascade through three levels. Each level aggregates the level below using published weights.

Score Cascade (Level 1 → 3)

L1

Indicator Score (0–10)

Each of the 80 indicators is scored from 0 to 10 by trained evaluators. Within each subcategory, 4 indicators each carry 25% weight.

▼ Subcategory score = mean of 4 indicator scores (equal 25% weights)
L2

Subcategory Score (0–10)

Each category has 4 subcategories. The subcategory score is the equal-weighted average of its 4 indicator scores.

▼ Category contribution = (mean of 4 subcategory scores ÷ 10) × category weight × 10
L3

V-Score (0–100)

The final V-Score is the weighted sum of all 5 category contributions, scaled to 0–100. Safeguard checks (Trust Coefficient, Integrity Veto, Category Floor) are applied before publication.

Indicator ID System

Every indicator has a three-part ID: Category.Subcategory.Indicator

Example: 2.3.1 = Category 2 (Institutional Accountability) → Subcategory 3 (Public Resource Stewardship) → Indicator 1 (Oversight of Public Funds)

How the Score is Built

1

Evidence Collection

We gather publicly available records: parliamentary hansards, asset declarations, EACC filings, Auditor-General reports, party manifestos, media reports, and court records. Each piece of evidence is tagged to a specific indicator.

2

Indicator Scoring (0–10)

Each of the 80 indicators is scored from 0 to 10 using published rubric criteria. Scores are assigned by trained evaluators and linked to source evidence. An indicator can be marked Refused if a candidate declines to provide information — this carries a mandatory score penalty.

3

Weighted Aggregation

Indicator scores roll up to subcategories (equal 25% weights), then to categories (equal subcategory weights × category weight), then to the final V-Score (weighted sum of all 5 categories, scaled to 0–100).

4

Safeguards Applied

Before publication, three safeguard checks run automatically:

  • Trust Coefficient — adjusts the score based on verification completeness; unverified claims carry lower coefficient weights
  • Integrity Veto — automatically flags or caps scores when critical integrity thresholds are breached (e.g. active criminal conviction, undisclosed assets)
  • Category Floor — ensures no pillar can be entirely ignored; a minimum threshold prevents compensatory scoring across pillars

V-Score Bands

Final V-Scores map to the following performance bands. These are used consistently across all candidate profiles.

90 – 100

Exceptional

Demonstrates outstanding alignment with constitutional leadership standards across all pillars.

80 – 89

Very Good

Strong performance across most pillars with minor gaps.

70 – 79

Good

Solid evidence of meeting key constitutional standards with some areas for improvement.

60 – 69

Satisfactory

Meets minimum standards in most areas; notable gaps in one or more pillars.

50 – 59

Needs Improvement

Below-average performance; significant concerns in multiple pillars.

0 – 49

Unsatisfactory

Significant constitutional and integrity concerns. May include a triggered Integrity Veto.

Full Scoring Rubric

All 80 indicators used in V-Score calculation, organised by category and subcategory. Each indicator is scored 0–10 by trained evaluators using published criteria with constitutional anchors.

1.1. Ethical Conduct Record
Art. 73, 75, 77
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
1.1.1 Criminal Record & Legal Compliance 25% Art. 73(2), 75
1.1.2 Ethical Violation History 25% Art. 73, 77
1.1.3 Conflict of Interest Management 25% Art. 75(1)
1.1.4 Adherence to Professional Codes of Conduct 25% Art. 73(1)
1.2. Financial Transparency
Art. 76, 201
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
1.2.1 Asset Declaration Completeness 25% Art. 76(1)
1.2.2 Wealth Justification 25% Art. 76(2)
1.2.3 Financial Misconduct History 25% Art. 76, 201
1.2.4 Tax Compliance Record 25% Art. 201(1)
1.3. Consistency and Reliability
Art. 10, 73
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
1.3.1 Policy Position Consistency 25% Art. 10
1.3.2 Promise Fulfillment Record 25% Art. 73(2)(b)
1.3.3 Public Statement Accuracy 25% Art. 33, 10
1.3.4 Track Record of Commitments 25% Art. 73
1.4. Public Trust and Accountability
Art. 10, 73, 232
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
1.4.1 Public Trust Ratings 25% Art. 10(2)
1.4.2 Accountability to Voters 25% Art. 73(1)
1.4.3 Response to Public Criticism 25% Art. 232
1.4.4 Transparency in Decision-Making 25% Art. 10(2)(f)

2.1. Transparency Practices
Art. 10, 35, 232
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
2.1.1 Information Disclosure Quality 25% Art. 35(1)
2.1.2 Access to Information Compliance 25% Art. 35
2.1.3 Budget & Expenditure Transparency 25% Art. 201, 229
2.1.4 Meeting Attendance & Participation Records 25% Art. 232(1)(f)
2.2. Constitutional Compliance
Art. 10, 73, 232
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
2.2.1 Compliance with Leadership & Integrity Requirements 25% Art. 73, 75
2.2.2 Adherence to Laws & Regulations 25% Art. 232(1)(d)
2.2.3 Respect for Constitutional Processes 25% Art. 10
2.2.4 Institutional Rule Observance 25% Art. 232
2.3. Public Resource Stewardship
Art. 201, 226, 229
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
2.3.1 Oversight of Public Funds 25% Art. 201, 229
2.3.2 Prevention of Wastage & Misuse 25% Art. 226(5)
2.3.3 Audit Compliance Record 25% Art. 226, 229
2.3.4 Resource Optimisation Evidence 25% Art. 201(d)
2.4. Accountability Mechanisms
Art. 35, 119, 229
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
2.4.1 Audit & Oversight Engagement 25% Art. 229
2.4.2 Responsiveness to Parliamentary Questions 25% Art. 119
2.4.3 Report Submission Compliance 25% Art. 229(7)
2.4.4 Anti-Corruption Stance & Actions 25% Art. 73, 232

3.1. Community Engagement
Art. 10, 118, 232
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
3.1.1 Constituency / Ward Presence 25% Art. 232
3.1.2 Development Project Initiation 25% Art. 43
3.1.3 Public Participation Facilitation 25% Art. 118(1)(b)
3.1.4 Responsiveness to Community Needs 25% Art. 10(2)
3.2. Inclusion and Diversity
Art. 27, 56, 100
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
3.2.1 Gender Equity Initiatives 25% Art. 27(3), 100
3.2.2 Youth Inclusion Efforts 25% Art. 55, 100
3.2.3 Disability & Minority Representation 25% Art. 54, 56
3.2.4 Marginalised Group Advocacy 25% Art. 56
3.3. Communication Quality
Art. 33, 35
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
3.3.1 Clarity & Transparency of Communication 25% Art. 35
3.3.2 Media Engagement & Accessibility 25% Art. 33, 34
3.3.3 Social Media & Digital Presence 25% Art. 33
3.3.4 Public Education Initiatives 25% Art. 43(1)(f)
3.4. Participation and Feedback
Art. 10, 118, 119
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
3.4.1 Stakeholder Consultation Frequency 25% Art. 118
3.4.2 Petitions & Public Input Responsiveness 25% Art. 119
3.4.3 Community Feedback Integration 25% Art. 10(2)
3.4.4 Participatory Governance Track Record 25% Art. 118(1)

4.1. Policy Clarity & Articulation
Art. 10, 129
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
4.1.1 Policy Document Quality 25% Art. 10
4.1.2 Specificity of Proposals 25% Art. 129
4.1.3 Communication of Policy Goals 25% Art. 10(2)
4.1.4 Manifesto Completeness 25% Art. 36, 38
4.2. Constitutional Alignment
Art. 10, 27, 43
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
4.2.1 Policy Anchoring in Constitution 25% Art. 10
4.2.2 Devolution & County Government Compliance 25% Art. 174, 175
4.2.3 Bill of Rights Alignment 25% Art. 19–59
4.2.4 Human Rights Framework Integration 25% Art. 20, 21
4.3. Feasibility Assessment
Art. 201, 225
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
4.3.1 Budget Realism 25% Art. 201, 225
4.3.2 Implementation Timeline Credibility 25% Art. 129
4.3.3 Stakeholder & Expert Consultation Evidence 25% Art. 118
4.3.4 Risk & Contingency Planning 25% Art. 201(d)
4.4. Evidence Use and Input
Art. 10, 35
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
4.4.1 Use of Data & Research in Proposals 25% Art. 35
4.4.2 Pilot Programme & Precedent Reference 25% Art. 10
4.4.3 Incorporation of Public Feedback 25% Art. 118, 119
4.4.4 Expert Advisory Engagement 25% Art. 232(1)(h)

5.1. Leadership Record
Art. 73, 232
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
5.1.1 Previous Elected/Appointed Office Performance 25% Art. 73
5.1.2 Institutional Impact & Legacy 25% Art. 232
5.1.3 Conflict Resolution Track Record 25% Art. 10(2)(d)
5.1.4 Visionary Leadership Evidence 25% Art. 73(1)
5.2. Technical Competence
Art. 232(1)(h)
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
5.2.1 Relevant Academic Qualifications 25% Art. 232(1)(h)
5.2.2 Professional Training & Certifications 25% Art. 232
5.2.3 Sector-Specific Expertise 25% Art. 232(1)(h)
5.2.4 Published Work or Research 25% Art. 33, 35
5.3. Decision-Making Competence
Art. 10, 47, 73
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
5.3.1 Voting Record Analysis 25% Art. 10
5.3.2 Committee Participation & Output 25% Art. 232
5.3.3 Crisis Response Record 25% Art. 47
5.3.4 Cross-Party Collaboration Evidence 25% Art. 10(2)(d)
5.4. Execution Ability
Art. 43, 73, 201
ID Indicator Name Weight Constitutional Anchor
5.4.1 Project Completion Rate 25% Art. 43
5.4.2 Delivery on Campaign Promises 25% Art. 73(2)(b)
5.4.3 Budget Utilisation Efficiency 25% Art. 201(d)
5.4.4 Measurable Outcomes Record 25% Art. 232(1)(f)

All indicators are scored 0–10. Each indicator within a subcategory carries equal weight (25%). Subcategory and category scores are equal-weight averages before final category weights are applied.

Constitutional Framework

Every V-Score indicator is anchored to at least one article of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. The articles below collectively form the legal and ethical basis of the VeriVote framework.

National Values & Governance

  • Article 10 National values and principles of governance — underpins all five pillars
  • Article 33 Freedom of expression — communication quality indicators
  • Article 35 Access to information — transparency and disclosure indicators
  • Article 38 Political rights — candidate accountability to voters

Leadership & Integrity

  • Article 73 Responsibilities of leadership — integrity and ethical conduct
  • Article 75 Conduct of State officers — conflict of interest and ethical violations
  • Article 76 Financial probity of State officers — asset declarations and wealth justification
  • Article 77 Restrictions on activities of State officers

Equality & Inclusion

  • Article 27 Equality and freedom from discrimination — inclusion indicators
  • Article 54 Rights of persons with disabilities
  • Article 55 Rights of youth
  • Article 56 Rights of minorities and marginalised groups
  • Article 100 Promotion of representation of marginalised groups in Parliament

Public Finance & Accountability

  • Article 201 Principles of public finance — resource stewardship
  • Article 225 Accounting officers
  • Article 226 Accounts and audit of public entities
  • Article 227 Procurement of public goods and services
  • Article 229 Controller of Budget — audit compliance and budget reporting

Participation & Administrative Action

  • Article 47 Fair administrative action — decision-making competence
  • Article 118 Public access and public participation in Parliament
  • Article 119 Right to petition Parliament
  • Article 129 Principles of executive authority
  • Article 232 Values and principles of public service — across all pillars

Verification Standards

All scoring evidence is sourced from official government records, court judgements, Auditor-General reports, Electoral Commission filings, or accredited media. No indicator is scored on opinion alone. Evidence links are maintained in the VeriVote Evidence Registry and available for third-party independent review.

See Scores in Action

Browse candidate profiles to see real V-Scores, pillar breakdowns, and evidence links.

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