Activist Boniface Mwangi has made good on his threat of joining a procession to the Pangani Police Station to demand the release of Rose Njeri, a software developer arrested on Friday, May 30, 2025, ostensibly for creating a platform for Kenyans to submit their views on the 2025 Finance Bill.
Taking to his social media on Sunday, June 1, 2025, Mwangi, who is currently recuperating from the grievous bodily harm inflicted during his detention in Tanzania, confirmed he would be joining the procession to demand her release.
Njeri was on Friday, May 30, detained at Pangani Police Station for creating an online platform for Kenyans to submit their views on the Finance Bill 2025, a move that has sparked widespread outrage among activists and legal experts.
“It’s a beautiful day to fight for our rights. We are headed to Pangani Police Station to #FreeRoseNjeri. We don’t fear Ruto, arrest, or even death. We shall never bend our knees to a thief and a murderer. Ruto will go, whether he likes it or not. Kenya isn’t his personal property!” Mwangi’s statement read.
On Saturday, May 31, 2025, Mwangi had added his voice to the mounting calls to have the 35-year-old freed.
Taking to his X page, Mwangi decried the arrest and violation of Njeri’s rights while revealing plans to lead the movement to demand justice for Njeri.
“Rose Njeri is in police custody. She is in jail for making it easier for Kenyans to submit formal objections to the proposed Finance Bill 2025. I have two broken toes, multiple fractures, and I’m getting by with a walking stick, but tomorrow at 10:00 am we will protest at Pangani Police Station to free her,” he stated.
“Either the police give her the bond to which she is entitled or we shut down the station. Her rights have been violated, and it’s our responsibility to stand up for her and demand for her immediate release. It is our constitutional right to protest and demand that her rights be respected,” he added.
Njeri’s detention sparked widespread outrage, with the #FreeRoseNjeri hashtag going abuzz since her arrest.
Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana are among prominent personalities who have spoken out against her arrest.
On the night of Saturday, May 31, 2025, Mutunga accused the authorities of violating the 2010 Constitution and effectively “overthrowing” it through their actions against Njeri.
He further stated that Njeri, as a single mom, has had her two children denied care and protection due to their mother’s continued detention.
“Our government finds the Constitution inconvenient. I believe the government is in violation of Articles 32(1), 33 (1) (a). As a single mom, her two children are denied “care and protection”. Our government is telling us loud and clear that it has overthrown the constitution,” Mutunga stated.
