They have nothing on me: Rose Njeri decries harassment by DCI
By Kenneth Mwenda, June 6, 2025Rose Njeri, a Kenyan activist, has spoken out about her recent arrest by DCI officers, calling it a tactic to scare her into silence.
“They know they have nothing on me. They’re just infringing upon my rights,” Rose said, recounting how officers held her for three days and took her computers without presenting any charges.
The ordeal began when Rose responded to a tweet asking for help to organise public feedback on a finance bill. She was approached by someone who wanted an emailing platform like the one for 2024, and led her outside, where chaos erupted. DCI officers, flashing badges, forced her into a car, ignoring questions about why she was being taken.
Rose described their aggression, saying they threatened to beat her and grabbed her phone as she tried to contact others. She ended up with scratches from the struggle but said the worst part was the verbal abuse and lack of clear answers.
“They took my phone, my computers, and held me for three days without a proper charge sheet,” Rose said. “It’s just harassment for helping Kenyans speak up.”
Harsh detention
Held over a long weekend, Rose was shocked by the treatment. She was given little food–only a few pieces of nyama choma–and felt her rights were ignored.
At the ODPP’s office, officers scrambled to prepare a charge sheet, but Rose insists they found nothing incriminating on her devices. She believes her arrest, timed close to June 25th, was meant to send a message to activists.
“The state is radicalising people more than anyone else,” she argued, pointing out the lack of due process.
She was simply trying to improve her country while preparing to graduate. Despite the ordeal, Rose remains defiant, vowing to keep pushing forward. Rose’s activism centres on encouraging public participation, not breaking the law. She sees her arrest as an attempt to silence dissent. Her resolve to continue, despite the state’s actions, highlights her commitment to Kenya’s future.
Rose’s story has sparked outrage, with many questioning why an activist helping Kenyans voice their concerns was targeted. Her experience raises serious concerns about the state’s approach to free speech and public participation, leaving her determined to carry on undeterred by what she calls blatant intimidation.