Rose Njeri cybercrime charges Kenya case has ignited a national debate on digital freedoms and civic tech. Njeri, who was arrested last Friday, is accused of building a platform that allowed Kenyans to automatically send feedback on the Finance Bill to Parliament. The tool, hosted at civic-email.vercel.app, allegedly overwhelmed government email systems.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the platform “knowingly generated and sent mass emails” to the Finance Committee’s inbox, disrupting normal operations. Authorities say the tool also targeted the Clerk of the National Assembly in a similar manner.
The arrest quickly went viral, with #FreeRoseNjeri trending across social media. Civil society groups and digital rights advocates say the charges represent a crackdown on public participation and freedom of expression.
On Tuesday morning, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) raised concerns after Njeri was moved from Pangani Police Station before 7:30 a.m. without informing her lawyers. LSK President Faith Odhiambo and local activists said the transfer was likely intended to block legal access.
Crowds of protesters later gathered outside Milimani Law Courts, calling for her immediate release and transparency in the case.
Amnesty Kenya strongly criticized her 88-hour detention, calling it a severe violation of her constitutional rights.
“This isn’t just about Rose it’s about the future of civic tech and public input in governance,” said one protester outside the courthouse.
Njeri was finally brought before the court on Tuesday afternoon. Her supporters argue that building a digital platform to facilitate citizen feedback should never be criminalized.
Her legal team is now pushing for an unconditional release. The case is rapidly becoming a flashpoint in Kenya’s wider conversation about digital rights, public accountability, and the limits of civic innovation.
