Rose Njeri, a Kenyan software developer, has reportedly been arrested and is being held at a city police station over her involvement in developing a website that opposed the proposed Finance Bill 2025.
The arrest came just days after Njeri posted a tweet on May 19, announcing the launch of the website. In her tweet, she said she had built a simple online tool that would allow Kenyans to submit their objections to the Finance Bill 2025 with just one click.
Her exact words were, “I wrote a simple program that lets you reject the Finance Bill 2025 with just one click. Click below to send your objection.”
On Saturday, May 31, Faith Odhiambo, the president of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), confirmed that a team from LSK had visited Pangani Police Station and managed to see Njeri after what she described as a lengthy and difficult process.
Despite their efforts, she said all attempts to secure Njeri’s release on bail had been unsuccessful.
Faith called on Kenyans to remain calm and observant as legal efforts to secure her release continue. “As things stand, we are still actively involved in the case and are doing everything we can to ensure Njeri returns home to her family.
We urge the public to stay vigilant but composed, and we promise to share timely and detailed updates as soon as we make meaningful progress in getting her released,” she said.
High Court Advocate Ian Mutiso also confirmed the incident. He said he received a call about Njeri’s arrest at around 9 p.m. on Friday.
According to him, Njeri was arrested earlier that day, around 2 p.m., on Enterprise Road in Nairobi, where she was attending a technology training session.
Mutiso said she was forcibly taken away from the venue and forced into one of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) vehicles—a Subaru.
Mutiso further revealed that the officers took Njeri to her home, where they conducted a search and seized several electronic gadgets, all without presenting a search warrant.
He also stated that Njeri was not allowed to contact her family or her legal team following her arrest.
“The officers blocked her from making any phone calls to either her family or her lawyers. Fortunately, she managed to find a way to contact a pharmacist near her home, and later her mother, by sheer luck,” Mutiso explained.
“Afterward, the officers drove her around the city for several hours before finally taking her into custody.”
Mutiso added that Njeri was interrogated about the Finance Bill 2025 website and memoranda submission links. She was allegedly forced to write a statement and was denied the right to have a lawyer present during questioning.
Njeri’s arrest has sparked outrage across social media, with many Kenyans demanding her immediate and unconditional release.
The online community has been using hashtags and posts to call out what they see as a violation of her rights and suppression of free speech.
Many have applauded her for standing up for Kenyans’ right to express opposition to government policies and have promised to keep pushing for her freedom.
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