People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has called on Kenyans to treat the protection of their vote and democratic processes as both a personal and collective duty.

This comes as she criticised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for alleged complicity in the violence that marred November by-elections.

Speaking on a local radio station on Monday, December 8, 2025, Karua warned that Kenya’s electoral integrity remains under threat.

Karua emphasised that protecting democracy is not just the responsibility of political leaders or institutions, but of every individual citizen.

“We must see civic engagement as a personal duty. We have a duty to uphold and defend our Constitution. It is our collective duty to come together deliberately and safeguard our vote,” Karua said.

She accused the electoral body of ignoring pre-election threats and incidents of voter intimidation, rendering it complicit in undermining democracy. “When violence happens, and agents are either blocked, and candidates are blocked from coming to see what is happening, the IEBC is complicit,” she stated.

“The Party reiterates its dedication to the protection of constitutional values and encourages all citizens to remain actively involved in strengthening our democracy,” read part of PLP’s X post.

Criticism of IEBC response

Karua singled out the commission’s handling of threats before the polls, describing the decision to fine offending parties Ksh1 million each as insufficient.

“You see, the way they dealt they responded, to the threat to violence just before the elections. Fining parties a million each, which they can afford. That is telling them to carry on, and they indeed carried on until it got very ugly,” she said.

The PLP leader insisted the commission has stronger disciplinary powers but chose not to exercise them. “You must find who is at fault. The moment they bar a candidate rightly, or a party, fine both the candidate and the party, and warn them that next time, is exclusion from the elections. They have teeth, they refuse to bite,” Karua added.

Karua also criticised the inaction of police officers at polling stations, who operate under IEBC presiding officers’ authority. “So when violence happens… the IEBC is complicit. And that is why… we are calling you and your team incompetent. If you can’t manage a mini-election, how will you manage the general elections?” she declared.