The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has recommended cybercrime charges against software developer Rose Njeri following her arrest for allegedly interfering with the digital systems of the Kenyan Parliament.
Njeri, who developed a web platform to enable Kenyans to give feedback on the controversial 2025 Finance Bill, is accused of creating and deploying a program that overwhelmed official parliamentary email systems with mass submissions. The platform, hosted at https://civic-email.vercel.app, automatically generated and sent large volumes of emails to the Finance Committee’s official address (Financecommiteena@parliament.go.ke), according to investigators.
The DCI alleges that this activity disrupted the normal functioning of the Finance Committee’s internal systems and amounted to unauthorized interference under Kenya’s cybercrime laws. Additionally, Njeri is accused of targeting the email systems of the Clerk of the National Assembly in a similar fashion.
Njeri was arrested last Friday and detained at Pangani Police Station. However, on Tuesday morning, concerns mounted after her unexpected transfer from the station before 7:30 am. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and several civil society organizations raised alarm over her undisclosed whereabouts.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo condemned the move, calling for transparency and adherence to due process. “No one should be detained without being produced in court within the constitutional timeline,” she said.
Later that day, human rights activists held protests outside the Milimani Law Courts demanding her immediate arraignment. Amnesty International Kenya also weighed in, saying:
“It is clear to us that Rose Njeri’s rights have been severely violated over the last 88 hours and any contemplated fair trial is already in jeopardy.”
Njeri was eventually presented in court on Tuesday afternoon. Her case has sparked a national debate on the limits of civic tech, freedom of expression, and government transparency during public participation processes.
Legal observers and civil society groups argue that Njeri’s actions were a digital extension of constitutionally guaranteed public participation — not a criminal offense. Others warn that prosecuting her could set a dangerous precedent for technologists and civic-minded developers.
Further legal proceedings are expected later this month.
