Former Roots Party presidential running mate Justina Wamae has condemned the arrest of Rose Njeri, a Kenyan citizen who recently launched a website opposing the controversial Finance Bill 2025.

Wamae defended Njeri’s actions and accused the government of silencing free speech.

Through her X account on Saturday, May 31, 2025, Wamae criticised the arrest, stating that if Kenyans disapprove of the Finance Bill, they have every right to reject it without fear of intimidation.

She described Njeri as innocent and praised her for creating a platform that allowed ordinary citizens to voice their concerns about the bill.

“If the finance bill does not suit, the Kenyans reject it fully. Why arrest innocent Rose Njeri for coming up with an anti-finance bill website, freedom of speech,” Wamae stated.

Njeri’s website, titled “Objection to the Finance Bill 2025 (National Assembly Bills No. 19 of 2025),” encouraged citizens to submit feedback and objections directly to the government.

Njeri’s arrest

Njeri was arrested on Friday, May 30, 2025, by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Her arrest sparked an uproar on social media and drew the attention of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), which immediately began efforts to locate and secure her release.

On Saturday, May 31, 2025, LSK president Faith Odhiambo confirmed that the organisation had received several distress calls from members of the public who witnessed the incident.

In her statement, she said the LSK had immediately formed a legal team to trace Njeri and try to secure her release.

However, their efforts were met with resistance.

Odhiambo said the officers who arrested Njeri deliberately obstructed her access to legal counsel, making it extremely difficult for her to be located. It was only around 8 pm on Friday that the LSK team finally learned she was being held at Pangani Police Station.

The legal team rushed to the station, and after lengthy negotiations, they were allowed to see her.

Despite this breakthrough, their attempts to secure her release on police bail were unsuccessful.

The Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Pangani reportedly refused to grant her bail, forcing the lawyers to keep vigil at the station overnight.

Odhiambo later spoke to one of the lawyers on the ground, who kept her updated on the events. She described the situation as a clear violation of Njeri’s rights and expressed concern over the government’s efforts to silence dissent.

She also urged the public to stay calm but remain watchful. She assured Kenyans that the LSK would continue pushing for Njeri’s release and would provide regular updates on the case.

Odhiambo reaffirmed the Society’s commitment to defending the rule of law and protecting the constitutional rights of all Kenyans.

As of late May 2025, public discourse surrounding Kenya’s Finance Bill 2025 has begun to intensify, marking the onset of broader national debate on the proposed fiscal policies.