By Gidion Ngeno
East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament Kanini Kega has strongly condemned the arrest of digital activist Rose Njeri, calling for her immediate and unconditional release. The MP has warned of unspecified action should authorities fail to act.
In a bold statement posted on social media Monday, Kega wrote:
“Release Rose Njeri Tunguru now unconditionally. She is not a felon. If not, tomorrow we will be there very early in the morning.”
Rose Njeri was arrested on Sunday for allegedly creating a digital platform that allowed Kenyans to voice opposition to the Finance Bill 2025. Authorities claim the tool generated mass emails to parliamentary email addresses, which they argue disrupted legislative systems. However, critics view the arrest as an attempt to stifle public participation and suppress freedom of expression.
The arrest has sparked national outcry, with civil society organizations, lawyers, and political leaders rallying behind Njeri. Many argue that her platform merely facilitated civic engagement, which is constitutionally protected.
Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi also weighed in, defending Njeri’s right to free speech.
“She only exercised her constitutional freedom of expression through her platform,” Muturi said on Monday. “The criminalization of civic technology is a dangerous precedent for our democracy.”
The arrest has further ignited debate over government transparency and citizen participation in policymaking, especially concerning contentious legislation like the Finance Bill.
Njeri is expected to be arraigned in court on Tuesday. Meanwhile, supporters have vowed to hold peaceful protests outside the Milimani Law Courts, demanding her release and the dropping of charges.
Public pressure continues to mount, with many Kenyans expressing fear that the government is targeting individuals who give ordinary citizens a voice in national matters.
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