Nominated Member of Parliament (MP) Sabina Chege has criticised the government for arresting activist and software developer Rose Njeri.

Speaking at a local TV station on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, Chege stated that the government is sabotaging itself, as the blogger had created the website to educate the public on the Finance Bill 2025 proposals.

“Unless it’s something beyond what cannot be read in the newspaper or the information available, Rose had created a website to educate the public about the proposals in the Finance Bill,” she stated.

“If the website is just for educational purposes and she is not inciting people, I don’t see why the mother of two should be arrested,” she added.

The MP has urged the government to create avenues to provide Kenyans with information on the proposals of the Finance Bill 2025 in order to avoid the mistakes made in 2024 that led to anti-Finance Bill protests in the country.

“The government should create avenues to inform the public on the details of the finance bill. Let’s give information and not repeat the mistakes of 2024, where people did not have a proper explanation and became emotional, leading to the breach of parliament,” she added.

Njeri was arrested in South B on May 30, 2025, for developing an online website, Civic Email, that asked Kenyans to object to the 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,” she said in a tweet.

Several people and humanitarian groups, including former Chief Justice David Maraga and the Law Society of Kenya, have since come together to condemn her arrest and detention and call for her immediate release.

Finance Bill 2025

 The Finance Bill 2025 proposes several key changes to enhance tax collection and simplify compliance.

It introduces tax deductibility for contributions to the Social Health Insurance Fund, affordable housing levy, and post-retirement medical funds, which could reduce taxable income for contributors.

The bill also plans to replace the current 1.5 per cent Digital Services Tax with a 20 per cent Significant Economic Presence Tax targeting foreign digital businesses, broadening the tax base.

Excise duties are adjusted, including a 10 per cent levy on money transfer services, 15 per cent on alcohol and betting advertisements, and 5 per cent on imported sugar, except for pharmaceutical use.

The VAT registration threshold is raised from Ksh5 million to Ksh8 million to ease the burden on smaller businesses.