Rose Njeri Set Free After Court Drops Charges Against Her

Activist and software developer Rose Njeri has been released after a court ruled that the two criminal charges brought against her by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) were unlawful and didn’t outline any actual offence.

Delivering the verdict on Friday, June 20, Milimani principal magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo said the charge sheet was flawed and unclear, adding that the ambiguity in the charges led the court to reject them entirely.

The court also emphasised that all Kenyans have a right to public participation, likely referring to Njeri’s website, which allowed citizens to give feedback on the 2025 Finance Bill.

Njeri had been taken to court and charged with unlawfully interfering with computer systems, a violation of Section 16 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act No. 5 of 2018.

Web developer Rose Njeri Tunguru when she appeared before Milimani Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo on Monday, June 3, 2025. /FACEBOOK

Earlier, on Tuesday, June 3, the court had granted her release on a Ksh100,000 personal bond and scheduled her hearing for June 20. Before her arraignment, Njeri had spent three days in custody at Pangani Police Station.

Njeri had been arrested on Friday, May 30, over an X post revealing the creation of the website. "I wrote a simple programme that lets you reject the Finance Bill 2025 with just one click. Click below to send your objection."

Her arrest and detention over the Madaraka Day weekend triggered a wave of public outrage, with many Kenyans demanding her unconditional release.

Tensions escalated outside Pangani Police Station, where chaos broke out as activists, including Hanifa Adan and Boniface Mwangi, were blocked from seeing her. The standoff intensified to the point that the station’s gate was locked to keep them out entirely.

Despite the standoff, Njeri was eventually brought before the Milimani Law Court, backed by a powerhouse legal team led by former Chief Justice David Maraga. Other high-profile names in her defence included former Vice President and Senior Counsel Kalonzo Musyoka, Senior Counsels John Khaminwa and Eugene Wamalwa, Dan Maanzo, former LSK President Eric Theuri, and Ndegwa Njiru, along with representatives from the Law Society of Kenya.

Their strong presence underscored the seriousness of the case and the legal complexities involved. Meanwhile, outside the courtroom, crowds of Kenyans rallied, chanting and demanding Njeri’s immediate release.

Following her release, Njeri expressed deep appreciation for the solidarity she received, calling the government’s response both unexpected and unjustified.

She recounted the intense show of force during her arrest, saying around 15 officers showed up in three Subarus to take her from her home — a move she described as excessive and intimidating, especially since she hadn’t committed any crime.