Kenyan human rights organisations have strongly criticised the arrest of a software developer who created a website opposing a controversial finance bill, warning that it signals a growing crackdown on free expression.
The arrest of Rose Njeri has stirred public anger, particularly on social media, with activists and civil society accusing the government of silencing critics through intimidation and detention. Njeri was taken into custody on Friday and remained held in Nairobi by Sunday, according to her legal team.
Her arrest came days after she published a link to her site on X (formerly Twitter), where she explained the platform was designed to oppose a proposed finance bill. The bill, she argued, would raise the cost of living and undermine personal privacy. Her digital protest gained traction online but also drew the attention of authorities.
Faith Odhiambo, president of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), said on X that efforts to secure Njeri’s release on bail had been blocked. “The officers in charge have yet to agree to legal requests for her release,” she stated.
Vocal Africa, a regional rights group, condemned her detention as “a blatant attack on digital rights, freedom of expression and civic engagement.”
The incident comes amid rising concerns about civil liberties in Kenya. Following large-scale protests in mid-2023 over tax hikes and corruption, rights groups claim at least 60 demonstrators were killed by security forces, with dozens more abducted in the following weeks.
President William Ruto has previously addressed these accusations, stating last month that all those taken during the protests had been reunited with their families. He also pledged such incidents would not be repeated.
However, the arrest of Njeri has renewed fears about the government’s tolerance for dissent, particularly in digital spaces.
