Tension reached fever pitch in Pangani as enraged protesters stormed the gates of the Pangani Police Station, demanding the immediate release of detained tech developer Rose Njeri.
The dramatic scenes unfolded just days after Njeri was arrested for creating a controversial website designed to empower Kenyans to voice their opposition to the highly contentious Finance Bill 2025. Her arrest has sent shockwaves across the country, sparking outrage and igniting a firestorm of public resistance.
“We want Njeri! Ruto must hear us!” protesters chanted in unison, their voices echoing down the streets outside the heavily guarded station.
The demonstration was led by outspoken activists Hanifa Adan, Hussein Khalid, and Boniface Mwangi, who arrived at the scene flanked by a crowd of furious supporters. Their message was clear: Rose Njeri’s arrest was an attack on free speech—and they wouldn’t back down.
In a defiant tweet, Hanifa Adan confirmed police had locked the gates to block entry. “They’ve sealed off the Pangani Police Station. But we won’t be silenced,” she wrote.
Photos and videos shared online showed police holding their ground behind metal barriers as protestors waved placards, sang liberation songs, and vowed to return if Njeri wasn’t freed.
The protest came just hours after Boniface Mwangi issued a chilling warning on social media. “If they don’t release her on bond, we will shut down the station,” he declared. “What they’ve done is illegal, and we won’t sit back while her rights are trampled.”
Njeri’s arrest has sparked nationwide debate, with critics accusing the government of weaponizing law enforcement to stifle civic participation. The website she launched allowed Kenyans to digitally reject the Finance Bill 2025—a move authorities now appear to be treating as a criminal act.
But not everyone sees Njeri as a victim.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who visited her shortly before the protests began, praised her calm and courageous demeanor. “She knows she’s innocent and she’s not seeking pity,” he said. “What the government fears is her brilliance, her boldness, and the fact that she’s empowering citizens to speak up.”
In a powerful Madaraka Day message shared online, Omtatah slammed her arrest as unconstitutional. “Today I chose to defend truth over ceremony. Rose Njeri is being unlawfully detained for promoting public participation—something enshrined in our constitution,” he posted.
Njeri, a software engineer by profession, was reportedly arrested just days after a viral tweet on May 19 announcing the website’s launch: “With one click, you can reject the Finance Bill 2025,” she wrote. “Submit your objection now.”
As pressure mounts and protests intensify, all eyes are now on the government. Will they release Rose Njeri—or risk igniting a full-blown digital rebellion?
