NAIROBI, Kenya – Tech Activist Rose Njeri Released on Bond as Court Weighs Cybercrime Charges.
Web developer and digital rights activist Rose Njeri has been released on a Sh100,000 personal bond as the court determines whether she will face charges under Kenya’s controversial Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act. The ruling is set for June 20, 2025.
Njeri, who was arrested last week over her alleged involvement in developing Civic Email—a website enabling Kenyans to voice opposition to the Finance Bill 2025—has become a lightning rod for the growing digital activism movement.
Her case is now at the intersection of cybersecurity law, free speech, and civic engagement in Kenya’s digital era.
A Charge Sheet Under Fire
The charge sheet accuses Njeri of unauthorized interference with a computer system, a violation of Section 16 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, No. 5 of 2018. But her high-powered legal team, which includes former Chief Justice David Maraga, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and DAP-K’s Eugene Wamalwa, says not so fast.
“The charge sheet ought to disclose an offence known in law to enable the accused to take a plea,” the defence team told Milimani Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo, arguing the charges are “defective and unconstitutional.”
Kalonzo Musyoka was even more pointed in court: “If a crime is synthesising fellow Kenyans to say yes or no to the proposed finance bill, what crime is that?”
The defence also filed an application for the immediate return of Njeri’s confiscated property—including a mobile phone, flash drives, and a hard drive—allegedly seized during her arrest without due process. They requested the court bar authorities from relying on any data obtained from these devices in their prosecution.
Public Backlash and Political Undertones
Njeri’s arrest ignited a wave of public anger, with dozens of activists staging a protest outside Pangani Police Station on Sunday, June 1st, demanding her release. And when she appeared in court on Tuesday, she was met by a throng of supporters—including fellow tech activists, civic leaders, and everyday citizens—turning the courtroom into a symbolic battleground for digital rights.
For many, this isn’t just about one developer. It’s about what it means to dissent in the digital age—and whether Kenya’s legal system is prepared to uphold constitutional rights in the face of rapidly evolving technology.
Prosecution Stands Firm
Despite the growing outcry, prosecutors maintain that the charge sheet is legally sound and insist that Njeri’s arrest was warranted under existing cybercrime statutes. However, they did not oppose her release on bond.
Still, legal experts and civil society organizations argue this case could set a dangerous precedent for how Kenya handles online activism and tech-based dissent. Civic Email, the platform at the heart of the controversy, was designed as a tool to simplify citizen feedback on the Finance Bill 2025—essentially streamlining digital protest into a few clicks.
What’s Next for Rose Njeri—and for Kenya’s Digital Future?
With the next court date set for June 20, all eyes will be on the ruling. If the court finds the charges valid, Njeri will be required to formally take a plea—potentially opening the door to a landmark trial that could redefine the boundaries of tech, activism, and state surveillance in Kenya.
Until then, Rose Njeri remains free on bond, but the bigger question looms: In a country where coding your civic voice could land you in court, who’s really in control of the keyboard?
