Amnesty International protests transfer of Rose Njeri from Pangani Police Station
Houghton says that despite legal representation, she was denied bail without giving reasons to her advocates, an entitlement as an arrested person
Amnesty International Kenya has expressed concern over the transfer of software developer Rose Njeri from Pangani Police Station to an unknown destination by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations without any communication to her family or her lawyers yesterday.
Njeri, a software engineer and coder, was arrested on Friday, May 30, ahead of the long Madaraka weekend.
“Without legal representation, she was coerced to hand over her electronic gadgets and give out her passwords. Despite legal representation from her advocates and the Law Society of Kenya, she was denied bail without giving reasons to her advocates, an entitlement as an arrested person. Attempts to understand the charges being preferred against her were unsuccessful. Further attempts to reach the responsible officers and their seniors by their lawyers proved fruitless. As of Tuesday morning, she has been held for over eighty-eight hours,” Amnesty International Section Director Irungu Houghton said in a statement.
“The rights of an arrested person under Article 49 of the Constitution of Kenya are clear. All persons have the right to be informed promptly of the reasons of their arrest and to communicate with an advocate and other persons whose assistance is necessary, including a medical doctor (Rose Njeri has a medical condition). She also has the right to be released on bond or bail on reasonable conditions and prompt court appearance as soon as reasonably possible, but not later than 24 hours after arrest. Her right to a fair trial is further protected under Article 50 which presumes her to be innocent until proven guilty to a public trial with counsel of her choice,” he added.
“These rights are designed to ensure fairness, prevent abuse of power, and uphold human dignity. It is clear to us that Rose Njeri’s rights have been severally violated, and any contemplated fair trial is in jeopardy.”
Njeri was arrested after she created a web application that would enable Kenyans reject contentious clauses in the Finance Bill 2025 that will be tabled in the National Assembly on June 12.
She had shared a link to a site that flagged clauses in the Bill that she said would lead to escalation of the cost of living. It also allowed people to email parliament, calling for the bill to be withdrawn.
She also raised concern that a proposal to amend tax procedures, allowing the Kenya Revenue Authority to access personal data without a court order, could undermine privacy rights.
The new Finance Bill replaces the zero-rated tax provision on essential commodities with tax-exempt status.
Her arrest has sparked global attention amid protests from activists and politicians from both sides of the divide.
It is not yet clear whether she would be taken to court as yesterday was a public holiday.
It is apparent the government is keen to stop a similar scenario that last June’s protests when Gen Z mobilised online and stormed Parliament after MPs passed the controversial Finance Bill 2024, which President William Ruto was later forced to withdraw.
At least 60 youths were killing in a police crackdown that later turned into abductions, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.
President Ruto has repeatedly assured that there will be no more abductions.
While supporters of this year’s Finance Bill has avoided raising taxes or introducing this one, some fear it will push up the price of essential commodities as the National Treasury endeavours to cut waste, seal revenue leaks, and improve government system efficiency.
