How to Manage Campaign Volunteers in Kenya

Every campaign says it has thousands of volunteers. Few can say who they are, where they are and what they did last week. This guide shows how to turn goodwill into a team you can count on.

Start with the work, then find the people

A list of names is not a volunteer team. First list the work: door-to-door visits, setting up barazas, voter registration drives, social media, data entry, transport and, later, polling agents.

For each task, decide where it happens, when, how many people it needs and who leads it. Then match people to the work.

Separate interest from commitment. Someone who signed up at a rally is interested. Someone who has confirmed a task, a place and a time is committed.

Describe every task with

Organise volunteers by ward

Every volunteer should belong to a ward team with a named coordinator. A volunteer with no team soon becomes a volunteer with no task.

Work through groups people already trust: youth groups, women’s groups, chamas, churches and boda boda associations. Agree the work with the group leader, and keep a record of each member who takes part.

Start people on small tasks. A short first task shows you who is reliable and gives the volunteer a good first experience.

Be honest about money

Many campaigns give mobilisers facilitation such as lunch, transport and airtime. Agree the amounts before the work starts, pay through M-Pesa so there is a record, and pay on time. Late or missing facilitation destroys trust fast.

Pay for work that was done and checked, not for padded attendance lists.

Facilitating volunteers is very different from paying voters. Giving voters money or gifts to influence their vote is bribery under the Election Offences Act.

Keep volunteers safe and motivated

Tell volunteers exactly where they are going and who to call. Send them in pairs, and keep them away from areas where tension is high.

Never use volunteers to intimidate voters or opponents. It is wrong, it is an offence and it will hurt your campaign.

Say thank you. Recognise the best ward teams at meetings, share their results and invite top volunteers to meet the candidate.

Grow leaders from your volunteers

Your best volunteers are your future polling-centre captains, ward coordinators and polling agents. Watch who turns up, finishes tasks and brings others along.

Review your volunteer list every week. Look for teams that are overloaded, wards without enough people and volunteers who have gone quiet. UshindiOS connects volunteer sign-up, skills, ward teams, tasks and facilitation records, with each coordinator seeing only their own team.

Every week, ask