Nairobi – A Nairobi magistrate has dismissed criminal charges against activist Rose Njeri, ruling that the accusations tied to her online protest against the proposed finance bill lacked any legal basis.
Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo ruled Friday that the charges brought under Kenya’s computer cybercrime laws failed to identify any offense committed by the accused. The court found that Njeri’s actions posting concerns about the bill on a public platform and emailing the parliamentary finance committee did not violate any laws.
“The charge sheet is defective,” Onsarigo stated plainly. “It does not disclose any offense committed. The message sent by the accused was a call for public participation, which is a constitutional right.”
The case stemmed from Njeri’s creation and promotion of a website urging citizens to reject the 2025 finance bill. The platform allowed users to sign a petition and send pre-drafted messages to Parliament expressing opposition to the bill’s proposed tax measures.
According to court documents, prosecutors claimed Njeri had used a computer system to cause “annoyance” to public officials. However, the court found no evidence that her communication caused any harm, disrupted parliamentary proceedings, or breached the law.
“The accused voiced both her concerns and those of the public. Her communication was addressed through official email channels. There is no indication that her action injured any person or institution,” the magistrate added.
Following the ruling, Njeri was formally discharged. She did not immediately comment on the outcome.
The case had drawn public attention amid growing debates over civic engagement and the limits of digital expression in Kenya. Legal analysts said the ruling reinforced constitutional protections for freedom of expression and public participation in government decision-making.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had not announced whether it would appeal the decision by the time of publication.
