NAIROBI — A Kenyan software developer is facing cybercrime charges after building a web platform to help citizens speak out on the 2025 Finance Bill.
Rose Njeri, who was arrested last Friday, is accused of interfering with the email systems of Parliament’s Finance Committee and the Clerk of the National Assembly. According to police investigators, the site she created automatically sent large volumes of emails to official addresses used by lawmakers.
“She knowingly created a program hosted at https://civic-email.vercel.app/ that automatically generated and sent mass emails,” the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said in a statement. “This interfered with the normal functioning of the systems.”
The website allowed Kenyans to send digital feedback on the proposed Finance Bill directly to Parliament. It gained popularity quickly on social media, especially among younger Kenyans frustrated by tax hikes and economic hardship.
But authorities say the tool overwhelmed Parliament’s digital infrastructure.
Njeri was held at Pangani Police Station over the weekend. Her detention sparked public outcry on Tuesday morning, when her lawyers and civil rights groups said she had been moved without notice.
According to Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo, Njeri was taken from Pangani shortly before 7:30 a.m. “We were not informed of the transfer, and neither were her lawyers. This raises serious concerns,” said Odhiambo.
At midday, protestors gathered outside Milimani Law Courts demanding her immediate appearance in court. Among them were members of Amnesty Kenya, who called the situation a violation of her rights.
“It is clear to us that Rose Njeri’s rights have been severally violated over the last 88 hours,” Amnesty Kenya said in a statement. “Any contemplated fair trial is already in jeopardy.”
Njeri was finally brought before the court on Tuesday afternoon. She is expected to respond to formal charges in the coming days.
As debate around the 2025 Finance Bill continues, Njeri’s case has ignited a larger conversation about freedom of expression and digital rights in Kenya. While authorities stress the importance of protecting official systems, critics argue the case sets a worrying precedent.
“She built a tool to help citizens participate,” said one protestor outside the court. “That’s not a crime — that’s democracy.”
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has yet to make a public statement. Efforts to reach parliamentary representatives for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
Njeri’s legal team says they will challenge the charges and push for her release.
