Tech activist Rose Njeri: State agents still following me around

Kenyan tech activist Rose Njeri has spoken out about what she describes as ongoing surveillance by state agents, months after she was arrested in connection with her online activism against the Finance Bill 2025.

Speaking during a media interview on Monday, October 6, 2025, Njeri said she still feels unsafe even after the courts cleared her of cybercrime charges.

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She explained that while she continues with her civic tech work, she notices unusual patterns that leave her unsettled.

“I’m still a bit scared,” she said, noting that her movements are sometimes shadowed. According to her, this surveillance appears linked to her role in creating digital platforms for citizen participation.

Njeri recounted that she recently hosted a small public gathering but sensed unfamiliar individuals were deliberately monitoring the event.

“I’m sure someone was sent from DCI or NIS,” she remarked, adding that she suspected infiltration even though she could not directly prove it.

The activist described how the scrutiny extends into her private communication channels. “There are things like calls being monitored,” she explained, further saying she has received “funny texts” and experienced disruptions whenever she turns off her phone.

Despite these fears, Njeri maintains that she is not involved in any activities that would justify continued monitoring.

“There’s nothing I’m doing at the moment, I’m just building more tools in the space of civic tech,” she clarified, calling it “a waste of state resources” to follow her around.

Her concerns come against the backdrop of her May 30, 2025, arrest, when police linked her to a digital campaign against proposed tax measures. Njeri’s case was later dismissed in court, clearing her of all wrongdoing.

The 35-year-old was last week named among the TIME100 Next 2025 emerging leaders, under the “Advocates” category, for her work in civic technology.

Her platform, launched in May 2024, enabled Kenyans to email government officials directly about the Finance Bill, amplifying citizen voices in legislative processes.

Reflecting on her journey, Njeri acknowledged others who had faced similar ordeals. “I’m very clear that I’m not the only one who’s gone through this,” she said,