Kenya: Ruto Govt Arrests Activist For Cybercrime Over Finance Bill Criticism | Firstpost Africa | N18G
Rose Njeri, a Kenyan software developer and digital activist, was arrested after creating an online tool that allowed citizens to oppose the controversial Finance Bill 2025 with a single click. The bill proposes new taxes on essentials and digital services, which critics say could worsen the cost of living. Authorities charged her under Kenya’s cybercrime law, claiming her tool disrupted parliamentary systems. Her arrest sparked nationwide outrage, with activists, civil society, and legal groups calling it an attack on free speech and public participation. Though released on bail, Njeri’s case has intensified concerns about a growing crackdown on dissent in East Africa, especially as similar cases of repression and rights violations surface in neighbouring countries like Tanzania.