A Kenyan software developer and activist, Rose Njeri, spent her Madaraka Day weekend in police custody for developing an online tool
known as Civic Email, designed to facilitate public objections to the Finance
Bill 2025.
She was arrested in South B on Friday afternoon
and taken to Pangani Police Station, where she spent her weekend amid fruitless
efforts to release her.
Police handling her case said they feared her
campaign may incite and ignite protests ahead of the reading and passage of the
Bill.
Last year’s
protests against the Bill left more than 60 people dead and dozens missing. Others
are nursing wounds inflicted by security agencies.
Her detention ignited a storm of criticism
online, with human rights activists demanding to know why she remains in
custody without bail or formal charges.
Former
Chief Justice David Maraga condemned the arrest and detention, arguing it negates
the spirit of Madaraka Day.
“Madaraka
Day is about internal self-governance and the freedom to run our country. These
are the freedoms that the young people were seeking. They instead
were killed, abducted, and some have disappeared without a trace.”
“Rose Njeri is the latest to be abducted for allegedly innovating an
accessible system for citizens to express their views on the Finance Bill 2025.
This completely negates the spirit of Madaraka,” he said.
He said he will walk with the GenZ during
this solemn Gen-Z Revolution Month and beyond, in their activities and
plans as they seek to reset, restore and rebuild Kenya.
Lawyer John Khaminwa said he spoke with
the officer in charge at Pangani Police Station to request bail for Rose, but
he said his hands are tied.
Efforts by lawyers to secure her release were
met with silence.
Serious Crimes Unit officials trailed and
arrested her.
Diana Gichengo, Executive Director of The
Institute of Social Accountability (TISA), condemned the arrest and detention.
“Anyone
charged with a crime should be produced before the court as soon as possible. Rose
was brought to Pangani Friday at 1p.m., so there has been ample time to process
bail.”
“She is anaemic and, to date, neither I nor
senior counsel have been shown any formal charges,” she said.
Lawyers condemned the arrest as an intimidation
tactic aimed at silencing Rose and other Kenyans who may oppose the Finance
Bill 2025.
“This young woman made some comments on the
Finance Bill that were not well received by those in authority. In my view,
this is most unfortunate,” added Khaminwa.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), through its
President Faith Odhiambo, has also expressed frustration over the difficulties
lawyers have faced in providing Rose 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,” Odhiambo said in a statement.
Public pressure continues to mount online, with
Kenyans calling for Rose’s immediate release. Many say her arrest undermines
President William Ruto’s recent apology to the youth during the National Prayer
Breakfast.
“This is happening just days after an apology
was issued. It raises serious questions about the freedoms we are supposed to
enjoy when even senior counsel are forced to work late into the night trying to
secure justice,” Gichengo stated.
