How Voting Works

Voting on Top Awards is designed to be simple for supporters and verifiable for nominees and administrators. A vote is not counted merely because a payment request was created; it is credited only after the payment provider confirms a successful transaction.

1. Find the nominee you want to support

Browse active editions, categories, nominee profiles or the leaderboard. Each approved nominee profile shows the active nomination or nominations they are participating in. Choose the relevant nomination and select Vote Now.

2. Choose the number of votes

Select one of the available vote quantities or enter a custom quantity where the edition allows it. The platform calculates the total amount using the configured vote price for that edition, category or nominee.

For example, if one vote costs KSh 10, then 20 votes cost KSh 200. The amount is shown before the payment request is initiated.

3. Enter your M-PESA number

Provide the mobile number that should receive the payment prompt. The platform validates and normalises the number before creating the payment request.

4. Approve the STK Push

A secure M-PESA STK Push is sent through the configured payment provider. Check the amount and merchant details shown on your phone, then enter your M-PESA PIN to approve the payment.

Never share your M-PESA PIN with Top Awards, a nominee, an administrator or any other person. Your PIN is entered only on the secure prompt displayed by your mobile-money service.

5. Wait for payment confirmation

The payment provider sends the final transaction result back to Top Awards. A pending request does not increase the nominee's vote count. When a payment is confirmed successfully, the platform records the payment and credits the corresponding votes automatically.

6. The leaderboard updates

Verified votes contribute to the nominee's ranking. Depending on the edition settings, the public may see both the ranking and vote totals, ranking only, or no public leaderboard until results are released.

What happens to nominee earnings?

Some editions may allow nominees to receive a share of verified voting revenue. Where enabled, the nominee share is calculated from the confirmed payment and credited to the nominee wallet ledger. The remaining amount is recorded as platform revenue. The exact percentage may differ by edition, category or nominee.

Why can a vote take a moment to appear?

Mobile-money confirmations are asynchronous. In most cases confirmation is fast, but network or provider delays may leave a transaction pending temporarily. The platform can check the provider status without creating a second payment or awarding duplicate votes.

What if payment fails or is cancelled?

If the payment provider reports that a transaction failed, was cancelled or was not completed, no votes are credited for that transaction. You can start a new voting request from the nominee profile.

How does Top Awards protect vote integrity?

• Every payment request receives a unique platform reference.
• Votes are created only after successful payment confirmation.
• A single payment transaction cannot award votes more than once.
• Provider references and payment statuses are retained for reconciliation.
• Administrative and financial actions are logged for audit purposes.
• Voting windows and nominee/category eligibility are enforced by the server, not only by the button shown on the website.

Need help?

If you completed a payment but your votes remain pending after a reasonable period, contact the Top Awards team and provide the payment reference or M-PESA transaction reference where available. Do not send your M-PESA PIN.