Concerns as Arrested Activist Rose Njeri Transferred from Pangani Station
Software developer and activist Rose Njeri, arrested on May 30, 2025, for creating a website encouraging public objection to the Finance Bill 2025, has been transferred from Pangani Police Station in Nairobi and is expected to appear in court. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) is working to confirm the court in which she will be presented.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 3, 2025, outside Pangani Police Station, LSK President Faith Adhiambo confirmed that Njeri had been moved from the station earlier that morning. “We arrived at Pangani Police Station and have been told she had just been picked up. We ask our LSK members to be vigilant today. We are trying to determine which court she will be presented to,” Adhiambo said.
The LSK also emphasized the importance of upholding constitutional rights during legal proceedings. “We urge our courts to be mindful of Article 50 of the Constitution of the right to a fair hearing and right to representation,” added Adhiambo.
Njeri was arrested in the South B area of Nairobi for developing “Civic Email,” a platform that enabled Kenyans to send digital objections to the proposed Finance Bill 2025. In a tweet shortly before her arrest, Njeri described her tool as a way to simplify civic engagement: “I wrote a simple programme that lets you reject the Finance Bill 2025 with just one click.”
As of publication, neither the National Police Service (NPS) nor the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had released an official statement regarding Njeri’s current location or legal status.
The arrest has prompted significant backlash from both civil society organizations and political figures. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua condemned the arrest on June 2, 2025, describing it as an infringement on democratic freedoms and innovation.
“Now, more than ever, Kenyans must remain vigilant. We must speak up for our rights and for each other,” Gachagua stated. He called for Njeri’s immediate release, framing her actions as a legitimate and peaceful expression of civic participation.
He further criticized the government’s response, saying: “Her only ‘crime’ was building an online tool to help ordinary Kenyans send their objections to the Finance Bill 2025… This is not just an attack on Rose. It is a continuation of the attack on the youth of this country.”
The Finance Bill 2025, currently under public scrutiny, proposes key reforms aimed at expanding the tax base. Notable provisions include tax deductions for contributions to the Social Health Insurance Fund, the affordable housing levy, and post-retirement medical funds—measures intended to reduce taxable income and streamline compliance.
As legal proceedings unfold, public attention remains focused on Rose Njeri’s case, which has come to symbolize broader concerns about digital activism, youth expression, and constitutional freedoms in Kenya. The Law Society of Kenya continues to monitor developments and has pledged to advocate for Njeri’s legal rights as the situation progresses.
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Concerns as Arrested Activist Rose Njeri Transferred from Pangani Station