Kenyan Software Developer Rose Njeri, who was arrested on Friday, May 30, 2025, for creating the anti-Finance Bill 2025 website, has been acquitted of charges related to unauthorized interference with a computer system.
The court ruled that the charges were vague and without merit, citing that every Kenyan citizen has the constitutional right to public participation.
Milimani Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo discharged Njeri, ruling that the accusations failed to meet the legal threshold to constitute a crime under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
“In light of the same statutes, I hereby refuse to admit the two counts of charges against the suspect. She is hereby discharged under Section 890(5) of the Constitution that requires disclosure of the offence”, the magistrate ruled.
Rose Njeri Charged in Court
Njeri was arrested on May 30, 2025, and charged with unauthorized interference with a computer system.
According to the charge sheet, Njeri was accused of creating a program that sent mass emails to a parliamentary address.
“On the 19th day of May 2025, at 20:01 HRS, at an unknown location within the Republic of Kenya, you knowingly made a program hosted at https://civicemail.netlify.app/ that automatically generated and sent mass emails to [email protected], which is the official system of the Finance Committee, thereby interfering with the normal functioning of the systems,” the charge sheet read.
Additionally, on her website, Njeri outlined reasons why Kenyans should reject the Finance Bill 2025. She encouraged citizens to forward their emails to the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Finance Committee, raising concerns about certain clauses within the bill.
She was later released on bond of Ksh 100,000.
Also Read: Rose Njeri Arraigned in Court, Charged with Unauthorized Interference with Computer Systems
Njeri Raised Concerns
In her memorandum to the Clerk and the Finance Committee, Njeri’s objections include:
- Value Added Tax Act changes that would remove zero-rated status from essential goods, raising the cost of living and harming the agricultural sector.
- Excise Duty Act amendments that would expand the digital lending tax to non-resident online services, leading to financial exclusion and increased costs for low-income earners.
- Tax Procedures Act changes that would delete privacy protections, allowing the KRA to access private financial data without sufficient safeguards.
Also Read: Profile of Rose Njeri, Woman Arrested for Creating Anti-Finance Bill 2025 Website
About the 35-year-old
She argues that the bill violates constitutional rights, worsens poverty, and undermines Vision 2030’s transformative goals.
Njeri is the founder of Studio Libra Creatives, a company that develops innovative web applications and mobile solutions. She has created websites such as Girl Code Kenya.
Besides software development, she also runs an advertising and marketing agency through Studio Libra Creatives, helping clients with branding and digital marketing to build strong, recognizable identities that connect with their audiences. Njeri, 35, is a mother of two.
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