NAIROBI – Rose Njeri, a Kenyan software developer, was formally charged with cybercrime on Tuesday after creating a public platform meant to help citizens give feedback on the controversial 2025 Finance Bill.
Prosecutors say Njeri’s website disrupted parliamentary systems by automatically sending large volumes of emails to official inboxes-emails meant to reflect public opinion.
The 28-year-old developer was accused of “interfering with the functioning” of both the Finance Committee and the National Assembly’s IT infrastructure. According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), her application-hosted at sent mass emails to the committee’s designated address,
“The platform generated and directed bulk emails that overwhelmed official systems,” a senior DCI officer said on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly.
But her supporters say Njeri is being punished for encouraging public participation in the legislative process.
She was arrested last Friday and held at Pangani Police Station. Her detention sparked concern among lawyers and civil rights groups after her whereabouts became unclear early Tuesday.
“She was moved from Pangani before 7:30 am without any explanation,” said Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK). “This is not how due process works.”
Later in the day, demonstrators gathered outside the Milimani Law Courts, demanding transparency in the proceedings and her immediate arraignment.
Amnesty International Kenya sharply criticised the arrest and alleged mishandling of her case.
“In the last 88 hours, Rose Njeri’s rights have repeatedly been violated,” said the organisation in a statement. “A fair trial is already at risk.”
Njeri eventually appeared in court on Tuesday afternoon and was released on a Ksh.100,000 bond. The prosecution says the investigation is still ongoing.
According to legal experts, the charges raise broader questions about how Kenyan authorities treat digital tools designed to promote civic engagement.
“This could set a dangerous precedent,” warned constitutional lawyer Wachira Ndegwa. “If Parliament’s systems are so fragile that public feedback crashes them, the problem may not be the citizens.”
As debate over the Finance Bill intensifies, the case has touched a nerve in a country where digital activism is on the rise-but where laws governing tech and civic expression remain murky.
For now, Njeri is out on bond. But for many Kenyans watching closely, her case has become a symbol of the wider struggle between the state and those seeking a louder voice in its decisions.
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