By Neville Oduor
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has emerged as a fierce advocate for free expression, condemning the government’s arrest of 35 year old software developer Rose Njeri.
Njeri was detained on May 30, 2025, after creating a website that enabled Kenyans to reject the controversial Finance Bill 2025 with a single click.
Her arrest has sparked outrage, with Gachagua leading calls for her immediate release and urging Kenyans to resist what he describes as a systematic crackdown on dissent.
In a statement on X, Gachagua criticized the administration for failing to learn from the Gen Z protests of 2024, which were marked by widespread unrest over governance and economic policies.
“As we approach the one-year anniversary of the GenZ protests, it is painfully clear that this administration has learnt nothing about listening to the people,” Gachagua stated.
He accused the government of “escalating its crackdown on dissent, using fear and intimidation to silence those who speak out,” particularly as the new Finance Bill looms.
Gachagua highlighted Njeri’s case as emblematic of broader state repression, noting that her only “crime” was fostering civic engagement through technology.
“Rose Njeri, a young, brilliant software developer, is the latest victim of this repression. Her only ‘crime’ was building an online tool to help ordinary Kenyans send their objections to the Finance Bill 2025,” he said.
He further warned that this was “an attempt to stifle the youth’s courage, their innovative spirit, and their belief in the power of their own voices.”
The former deputy president also criticized Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen’s recent push to criminalize “fake abductions,” calling it a “thinly veiled attempt to suppress dissent.”
Gachagua called for unity, stating, “I call for the immediate release of Rose Njeri and urge all Kenyans to stand together against the silencing of our voices. Our future depends on it.”
Njeri’s arrest has galvanized activists, with the Law Society of Kenya also demanding her release. As tensions rise, Gachagua’s words resonate with a growing number of Kenyans demanding accountability and freedom.