By Okoth Otieno
Kenyan software developer and digital activist, Rose Njeri, has been released on a Sh100,000 bond following her arrest last week, with a ruling scheduled for June 20.
Njeri was today put on trial at the Milimani Law Courts, facing charges of “unauthorized interference with a computer system” under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act of 2018, after developing a web platform designed to collect public feedback on the controversial 2025 Finance Bill.
According to detectives, the platform created by Njeri allegedly directed mass emails to the official systems of the Clerk of the National Assembly, thereby disrupting normal operations.
Njeri’s arrest on Friday was at her Nairobi home, where police seized electronic devices, sparking widespread outrage, with activists and civil society groups condemning the move as an attempt to stifle dissent.
Organizations including the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and Amnesty Kenya raised alarms over her detention, with the latter stating that Njeri’s rights had been “severally violated” over the 88 hours she was held, potentially jeopardizing any chance of a fair trial.
Following her arraignment, public protests erupted outside Pangani Police Station and at the Milimani Law Court, where activists demanded Njeri’s release.
Speaking to BBC Newsday, LSK President Faith Odhiambo described the detention as a “recurrence of dictatorship,” pointing to a broader pattern of state overreach. The case has reignited debates over the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, with critics like activist Boniface Mwangi arguing that its vague provisions are often weaponized to target digital activism.
Njeri’s arrest comes at a time of heightened public frustration with government policies, particularly following last year’s protests over the 2024 Finance Bill. The 2025 Finance Bill has similarly drawn criticism for proposed tax increases, which many Kenyans fear will worsen the cost of living.
As the June 20 ruling approaches, Njeri’s case continues to highlight the tension between digital activism and state control and overreach in Kenya, raising critical questions about freedom of expression and the government’s use of cybercrime laws to suppress opposition.