Kenyan software developer and activist Rose Njeri was arrested on Friday, May 30, for creating an online platform enabling citizens to express opposition to the proposed Finance Bill 2025.**
Njeri, known for her work in branding and IT, developed a tool called Civic Email, designed to facilitate public objections to the Finance Bill 2025. She was apprehended in Nairobi’s South B estate by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and taken to Pangani Police Station, where she remained detained over the Madaraka Day weekend without formal charges or bail.
Police officials expressed concerns that her campaign could incite protests ahead of the bill’s reading and passage, referencing last year’s demonstrations against a similar bill that resulted in over 60 deaths and numerous injuries.
Human rights activists and legal professionals have condemned her detention. Former Chief Justice David Maraga criticized the arrest, stating it undermines the spirit of Madaraka Day, which celebrates Kenya’s self-governance and freedoms.
Lawyer John Khaminwa reported that efforts to secure her release were unsuccessful, with police claiming their hands were tied. Diana Gichengo, Executive Director of The Institute of Social Accountability (TISA), highlighted that Njeri is anaemic and has not been formally charged, raising concerns about her health and legal rights.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), through its President Faith Odhiambo, expressed frustration over the difficulties lawyers have faced in providing Njeri with legal counsel. All efforts to secure her release on police bail have been frustrated by the officers in charge, who have yet to respond to counsel’s requests.
Public outcry continues to grow, with many Kenyans demanding Njeri’s immediate release and criticizing the government’s actions as a suppression of free speech and civic engagement. The incident has intensified scrutiny of the government’s approach to dissent and the proposed Finance Bill 2025.
