Software developer and activist Rose Njeri has been traced after she was whisked from the Pangani Police Station on Monday morning, Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo has confirmed.
Njeri has been accused of committing offences relating to computer misuse and cybercrime, according to the police.
In a statement on X, Odhiambo revealed that the LSK team would be present at her hearing and see to it that she is released.
"We can confirm that Rose Njeri has been traced and is awaiting arraignment in court. We will be present to represent her and secure her release," she stated.
A video shared by activist Hanifa Adan moments later showed Njeri arriving for her arraignment at the Milimani Law Courts, where her supporters were awaiting.
She also shared her charge sheet, which showed she is being charged with unauthorised interference with the computer system contrary to section 16 of the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crime Act No.5 of 2018.
This comes hours after the LSK president raised concerns over the whereabouts of the software developer, and urged members of the society to be on the lookout regarding which court she would be presented in.
Odhiambo stated that when they arrived at the Pangani Police Station around 7:30 am, Njeri's lawyer was informed that she had been picked up for court.
Since the LSK had no idea which court she was being taken to, Odhiambo urged any lawyers who might come across her to alert the society so that she could not be arraigned without sufficient representation.
Njeri was arrested following a tweet made on May 19, where she announced the creation of a website designed to facilitate public objections to the proposed Finance Bill 2025.
"I wrote a simple programme that lets you reject the Finance Bill 2025 with just one click. Click below to send your objection," her tweet stated.
Her arrest has since caused a public uproar with Kenyans demanding her unconditional release. Activists and even politicians made it a point to visit her at the Pangani Police Station over the long Madaraka Day weekend.
On Sunday, chaos broke out outside the police station as activists, led by Boniface Mwangi and Hanifa Adan, decried being prevented from seeing Njeri, with the gate being locked to prevent their entry. However, Presidential hopeful Okiya Omtatah managed to access Njeri and was even pictured talking to her.
"I went to Pangani Police Station to visit and stand with Rose Njeri, who is being unlawfully detained for the noncrime of creating a website to promote the constitutional imperative of public participation by allowing citizens to comment on the Finance Bill 2025," Omtatah stated after the meeting.
Since Monday was a public holiday, her arraignment was set for Tuesday, leading her to spend almost 72 hours in police custody without arraignment, something that is against the law.
