"FREE ROSE NJERI" ACTIVISTS PROTEST DETENTION OF TECHIE BEHIND ANTI-FINANCE BILL WEBSITE

A group of activists on Sunday stormed Pangani Police Station in Nairobi, demanding the release of Rose Njeri, a software developer arrested for creating a website opposing the Finance Bill 2025.

Njeri, who launched the platform to enable public feedback on the bill, was arrested on Friday, sparking outrage online and offline.

Led by Boniface Mwangi, Hussein Khalid, and Hanifa Adan, the protesters chanted outside the station, accusing authorities of violating Njeri’s constitutional rights. Police reportedly locked the gates to prevent their entry.

“Either the police give her bond or we shut down the station,” Mwangi tweeted, calling the arrest illegal.

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who visited Njeri before the protests, said her detention was unlawful. “She is being punished for empowering citizens to participate in governance,” he posted on X.

Njeri’s May 19 tweet announcing the site said: “I wrote a simple program that lets you reject the Finance Bill 2025 with just one click.”

Civil society groups are now calling for her immediate release, citing growing threats to digital freedoms and civic participation.