Senator Cheruiyot Demands Transparency in Arrest of Tech Innovator Rose Njeri, Warns Against Stifling Digital Freedoms

NAIROBI, Kenya – June 4, 2025
A political storm is brewing over the controversial arrest of software developer Rose Njeri, as Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot becomes the latest high-ranking official to question the legality and transparency of the charges leveled against her.

Njeri, a well-known tech entrepreneur and creator of the Kenyan Archive Project—a widely used digital repository of Kenya’s historical records—was recently detained under cybercrime-related provisions that critics say are dangerously vague and ripe for abuse.

A Growing Outcry Over Digital Rights

In a strongly worded statement issued Wednesday, Senator Cheruiyot called on authorities to “urgently clarify the nature of the charges” brought against Njeri and warned against the “increasingly heavy-handed tactics” being used on innovators working in Kenya’s burgeoning digital ecosystem.

“While we support lawful enforcement of cybercrime statutes, we must guard against using these laws to muzzle innovation or suppress voices engaged in preserving our national heritage,” Cheruiyot stated. “Rose Njeri deserves due process, and the public deserves transparency.”

His remarks come amid mounting criticism from digital rights advocates, legal scholars, and members of the tech community, many of whom have rallied around Njeri, describing her detention as a chilling signal to Kenyan creatives and coders.

The Arrest That Sparked a Debate

Details surrounding Njeri’s arrest remain sparse, fueling speculation and suspicion. Early reports suggest that her work on the Kenyan Archive—which digitizes and curates politically sensitive documents—may have drawn the scrutiny of authorities. However, no formal justification has been publicly released, raising alarms about press freedom, intellectual property rights, and the line between lawful oversight and digital censorship.

“This is not just about Rose. It’s about whether Kenya’s legal framework supports or suppresses technological progress and public access to knowledge,” said a Nairobi-based digital rights lawyer.

Balancing Cybersecurity and Civil Liberties

The incident has reignited calls to review and refine Kenya’s cybercrime legislation, which some observers say is overly broad and prone to arbitrary enforcement, particularly when intersecting with politically sensitive digital content.

Senator Cheruiyot emphasized the need for striking a balance between security concerns and civil liberties, warning that undermining public trust in the legal system could have long-term consequences for Kenya’s innovation landscape.

“If young tech minds feel they must look over their shoulders while creating, we risk losing a generation of digital builders and thinkers.”

As Rose Njeri’s legal situation unfolds, eyes across the country—and far beyond—will be watching closely. The case could become a defining moment for Kenya’s stance on digital freedom, innovation, and the rule of law in the information age.