FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STATEMENT: Women Human Rights Defenders Demand Immediate Release of Rose Njeri
3 June 2025, Nairobi Kenya
We, Women Human Rights Defenders in Kenya, express profound concern over the arbitrary arrest and continued detention of Kenyan software developer and civic activist, Rose Njeri, who was apprehended on Friday, 30 May 2025. She was arrested during a graduation ceremony upon completing a course she was undertaking by police officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The officers took her to her residence in Embakasi where they ransacked her house and reportedly confiscated her devices to include computers, hard drives and phones. They did all this without a search warrant.
Ms. Njeri’s alleged offense involves the creation of an online platform, Civic Email, designed to facilitate public participation by enabling Kenyans to express objections to the proposed Finance Bill 2025. Public participation is not a crime – it is a constitutional right. Ms. Njeri’s initiative represents a constructive approach to civic engagement, aligning with democratic principles and the promotion of transparency and accountability.
During the arrest, Ms Njeri was violently handled by the officers where she sustained injuries. It is deeply concerning that at the time of arrest, she was not allowed to make any phone calls.
Despite efforts by her legal team, including senior counsel Dr. John Khaminwa, to secure her release, Ms. Njeri remains detained at Pangani Police Station without formal charges and denied cash bail/bond.
As of this morning, it came to our attention that she had been moved from Pangani Police Station to Capitol Hill Police Station. It is deeply concerning that the OCS Capitol Hill denies having Rose Njeri in their custody. Of growing concern is the effect this has on her health, given that she does not have access to either her doctor or medication.
We are currently witnessing a broader strategy by the government to muzzle digital activism and the abuse of existing laws to include the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crimes Act (2018) to clamp down freedom of expression. This should not be at all acceptable in our current democratic society.
Article 49 of the Constitution of Kenya provides comprehensively the rights of an arrested person to include being informed promptly of the reason of arrests, access to an Advocate or a person who can assist, not to be compelled to make any confession or admission, be arraigned in court within a reasonable time upon arrest, be released on reasonable cash and bail terms, among other rights provided under this Article. Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights lays emphasis on the rights of an arrested person, buttressing the provisions of the Constitution.
It is deeply concerning that Njeri’s rights were violated and continue to be violated. The continued prolonged detention of Njeri and the refusal to formally charge her before a court of law is a serious and gross violation of her fundamental rights under national, regional and international laws.
We are deeply concerned with the continued harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrests, threats and violations, targeting human rights defenders while championing human rights and freedoms within the confines of the law. Rose Njeri, committed no offence.
Kenyans need to continue speaking boldly against the continued shrinking civic space where fundamental freedoms such expression are being limited. Last year, we witnessed first hand violation of peaceful protestors over the proposed Finance Bill, 2024, where excessive and brutal force was used resulting in serious injuries and death of numerous peaceful protestors.
The President, on 28th of May 2025 at a National Prayer Breakfast meeting offered an apology to the youth of the country. Following the said apology Rose Njeri was arrested. It is thus concerning whether the President truly meant what he was apologising for. The apology should have been accompanied by actions, where Kenyans can be able to exercise and enjoy their rights and freedoms without fear or intimidation.
Of grave concern is that we are witnessing Njeri being violated against the backdrop of the Taskforce on GBV to include femicide in the country. It cannot be denied that what Njeri is going through is a form of gender-based violence premised on the fact that is just a woman who chooses to defend the rights of the citizenry. Her violations beg the question whether the State is ready to address and comprehensively tackle GBV to include SGBV against women and girls in the country.
The tribulations of Rose Njeri, mirrors those of other numerous women human rights defenders (WHRDs) who continue to be victimised for being women who speak their truth while defending rights and freedoms. Recently, we witnessed how other women human rights defenders Martha Karua,Lynn Ngugi Gloria Kimani and Agather Atuhaire of Uganda were ill-treated while in Tanzania. Ms Atuhaire, became a victim of physical and sexual violence and abuse in the hands of Tanzainan police officers. Such violations are alarmingly occurring within the East African region, thus spelling a coordinated clamp down on critical voices. The silencing of critical voices should thus be a thing of the past. Conducive environments must be enabled to ensure that WHRDs thrive while championing for rights and freedoms.
We as women rights defenders urge the relevant authorities to:
- Immediately release Rose Njeri and drop any unfounded charges against her;
- Respect and uphold constitutional rights, particularly the rights of an arrested person, freedom of expression and the right to public participation;
- Allow Njeri to have access to her doctors to ascertain the status of her health;
- Failure to her immediate release, we shall mobilise all women human rights defenders in the country, within the next 24 hours, galvanising at least 10,000 WHRDs, to peacefully protest and utilise all available mechanisms, until she is unconditionally released;
- Ensure due process is followed in all legal proceedings. Coalition For Grassroots Human Rights Defenders-Kenya (CGHRDs-Kenya)
- The Ni Mama Network
- End Femicide Kenya movement
- The Hummingbird Grassroots Centre
- Women Collective Kenya
- Youth Empowerment Movement Kenya, YEM Kenya
- Pussy Power Movement
- Women Human Rights Defenders Hub-The Kenya Hub
- Women & Wellness
- Kenya sex workers Alliance -KESWA.
- Pan African Grassroots Women Liberation.
- The Queet Republic
- Sauti ya Jamii Programme
- Agora Centre For Research
- African Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRD Initiative)
This statement is issued in solidarity with all individuals and organizations advocating for the protection of constitutional rights and the promotion of civic freedoms in Kenya.
Organisations
Individuals
- Rachael Mwikali
- Ruth Mumbi
- Salome Nduta
- Salma Hemed
- Caroline Ndunge
- Phelister Abdallah
- Kamaldin Ndungu
- Jecinter Agunja
- Marykate Wanjiram
- Lilian Muchoki
- Marylize Biubwa
- Agather Atuhaire
- Alvin Mwangi
- Wanja maina
- Constance Mukarati
- Nduko o’Matigere
