Gachagua condemns arrest of activist Rose Njeri, demands her immediate release

Njeri was arrested last week after launching Civic Email, an online tool that aimed to simplify and encourage public opposition to the contentious Finance Bill. 

The tool quickly gained popularity, particularly among young Kenyans, for streamlining communication between citizens and their elected representatives.

Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, Gachagua criticized the government for what he termed as hypocrisy in its dealings with Kenyan youth.

“Instead of celebrating her innovation and contribution to civic engagement, the state has chosen to make an example of her. This is not just an attack on Rose—it is a continuation of the attack on the youth of this country,” he wrote.

“It is an attempt to stifle their courage, their innovative spirit, and their belief in the power of their own voices. I call for the immediate release of Rose Njeri and urge all Kenyans to stand together against the silencing of our voices. Our future depends on it.”

Gachagua further accused the government of issuing contradictory statements regarding the recent wave of reported abductions of activists, calling it a “calculated move to manage public outrage and suppress criticism by turning the pursuit of justice into a punishable offence.”

Referring to recent remarks by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who proposed criminalising what he called “fake abductions,” Gachagua warned that such a move risked further eroding civil liberties.

“Who decides what is ‘fake’? The same administration where the President and top officials dismissed reports of abductions as fake news or self-inflicted—only to quietly admit the truth under public pressure?” he posed.

Almost a year since the widespread anti-Finance Bill protests shook the country, Gachagua lamented that the state continues to favour repression over reform.

“Rather than embracing dialogue and genuine reform, the government remains intent on escalating its war on dissent—using fear and intimidation to silence critical voices as the new Finance Bill approaches,” he said.