Rose Njeri
Rose Njeri | |
|---|---|
 Njeri in 2025 | |
| Born | 1989-1990 |
| Occupations |
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| Known for | "Civic Email" tool and subsequent arrest |
Rose Njeri Tunguru (born 1989–1990)[1] is a Kenyan coder and activist. She became known for her creation of "Civic Email," a digital tool aimed at helping Kenyans email officials expressing opposition to the Kenyan Finance Bill 2025, for which she was subsequently arrested. Her arrest sparked national outrage and protest. She was named as a Time 100 Next in 2025.
Biography
Tunguru resides in an apartment in Embakasi, Nairobi, and earned a bachelor's degree in commerce. She subsequently began learning web development through She Codes, Harvard Online, and Alt Africa.[2]
On May 19, 2025, Tunguru announced on X that she "wrote a simple program that lets you reject the Finance Bill 2025 with just one click". The tool was called "Civic Email".[3][4] The launch coincided with public discontent over the Kenyan Finance Bill 2025, and could be used to help citizens voice their objections to that tax law.[2] On May 31, she was arrested during a graduation ceremony,[5] and her devices were confiscated. She has stated that she was "never read her rights" and was detained for 88 hours[2] due to the weekend and a public holiday.[6]
She was officially charged with unauthorized interference with a computer system[7][8] for, according to prosecutors, "interfering with the normal functioning of government systems" by making her tool which "automatically generated and sent mass emails." She was subsequently released on bond. Video footage captured her smiling, which went viral on social media.[9]
Her case led to a national outcry, a trending hashtag of #FreeRoseNjeri[9] and activists protesting outside her jail.[4] She received support from organizations including Amnesty International Kenya and attorneys including former Chief Justice of Kenya David Maraga.[2] The case against her was ultimately dismissed by a magistrate, who also ordered her devices returned.[10] However, she has stated that her devices still have not been returned, and that officers have attempted to arrest her again since. Since then, she has described herself as a "civic tech activist."[2]
In 2026, she launched a new tool called Tuma Report, a platform allowing users to submit reports of events. She has stated she was inspired to create this by the clashes in Kakamega County, where households were meant to be displaced by gold mining, which she has stated was not reported by news media.[3]
She was named as a Time 100 Next in 2025.[1][11] She has also been named to the 40 under 40 list by Business Daily Africa.[12]
Personal life
Tunguru has anemia,[9] which she has stated was worsened by her time being detained.[13] She has two children.[6]
References
- 1 2 "Rose Njeri Tunguru Is on the 2025 TIME100 Next". TIME. 2025-09-30. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Kipchumba, Mike; Kihaki, Emmanuel. "Coder who turned civic frustration into global recognition". Evewoman Magazine. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- 1 2 "Rose Njeri, the viral Finance Bill email tool dev, is back with 'Tuma Report', a citizen journalism app for Kenya - Tech-ish". 2026-02-06. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- 1 2 Mureithi, Carlos (2025-06-03). "Outrage over arrest of Kenyan software developer as regional repression grows". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- ↑ "Who is Rose Njeri? Soft-spoken activist arrested over Finance Bill protest app". Citizen Digital. 2025-06-04. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- 1 2 "Rose Njeri: Kenyan software developer's detention sparks outrage". www.bbc.com. 2025-06-02. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- ↑ Omondi, Denis. "Why activist Rose Njeri wants her case thrown out". The Standard. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- ↑ "Kenya: Rose Njeri Charged Over Anti-Finance Bill Website — East African Herald". EastAfricanHerald. 2025-06-06. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- 1 2 3 Sama, Caleb (2025-06-03). "Rose Njeri Charged With Cybercrime for Letting Kenyans Email Their MPs". Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- ↑ "Life after arrest: Is Rose Njeri still facing threats? | KenyaMOJA.com". www.kenyamoja.com. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- ↑ "Detention to global honour: Rose Njeri earns TIME100NEXT nod after viral Finance Bill tool". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- ↑ "40 under 40 - Rose Njeri Tunguru". Business Daily Africa. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
- ↑ Marende, Nancy. "Rose Njeri reveals how arrest made her deliberate active citizen". K24 Digital. Retrieved 2026-07-13.