Web developer and civic tech activist Rose Njeri has been released on a personal bond of KSh100,000 after spending four days in police custody over cyber crime-related allegations tied to her public feedback platform on the controversial 2025 Finance Bill.
Appearing before Nairobi Magistrate Joffrey Onsarigo on Tuesday afternoon, Njeri did not take a plea, as her legal team raised preliminary objections to the charges, describing them as “fabricated” and “legally baseless.”
Njeri, who developed a website designed to simplify citizen submissions to Parliament, is accused by the state of unauthorised interference with computer systems. Prosecutors claim her platform overwhelmed the National Assembly’s email infrastructure by generating and sending automated submissions to the finance committee’s public feedback address.
“The accused knowingly made a program hosted at that website that automatically generated and sent mass emails,” argued State Counsel Victor Awiti. “This disrupted normal operations of parliamentary communication systems.”
But Njeri’s defence team, led by former Chief Justice David Maraga, strongly rejected the charge, framing it as an assault on democratic participation and digital innovation.
“These charges are unconstitutional. Rose did nothing wrong—she enabled Kenyans to respond to a public call for feedback on a bill that directly affects them,” said Maraga.
“Instead of being criminalised, she should be applauded for doing what Parliament should have done to engage the public meaningfully,” added lawyer Ndegwa Njiru.
Njeri was arrested at her home on Friday by a group of officers reportedly arriving in three unmarked Subaru vehicles, according to her statement. She was detained at Pangani Police Station until Tuesday’s court session, prompting public outcry and demonstrations outside the courtroom earlier in the day.
“The intimidation by about 15 men, the illegal arrest, the detention with no charges—it was ridiculous,” said Njeri in a statement following her release. “But I’m grateful that many Kenyans stood up and saw it for what it is.”
Outside the courthouse, tension escalated as protestors clashed with security officers, demanding her immediate release. Civil society groups and digital rights advocates have since decried what they see as an emerging trend of suppressing civic tech initiatives and criminalising public engagement.
Njeri’s platform was reportedly used by thousands of Kenyans to send memoranda on the Finance Bill 2025, which proposes sweeping tax measures that have triggered widespread concern.
Defense counsel Eric Theuri questioned the basis of the charges, noting:
“That email address was created for public use. You cannot then punish a citizen for using it as intended.”
The court has scheduled June 20 for a ruling on whether Njeri will stand trial under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
