Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has come out strongly against the government over the arrest and detention of Rose Njeri.
In a statement on Monday, June 2, Gachagua accused President William Ruto's administration of using intimidation tactics on those who speak against it.
"As we approach the one-year anniversary of the GenZ protests, it is painfully clear that this administration has learnt nothing about listening to the people.
"Rather than embracing dialogue and reforms, the government is escalating its crackdown on dissent, using fear and intimidation to silence those who speak out. Especially as the new Finance Bill approaches," he said.
Njeri was arrested for developing an online platform that enabled Kenyans to easily send objections to the controversial Finance Bill 2025.
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Gachagua argued that the government should have instead celebrated her for her contribution to civic engagement.
"Rose Njeri, a young, brilliant software developer, is the latest victim of this repression. Her only 'crime' was building an online tool to help ordinary Kenyans send their objections to the Finance Bill 2025. Instead of celebrating her innovation and contribution to civic engagement, the state has chosen to make an example of her," he continued.
In his remarks, Gachagua framed Njeri’s arrest as part of a broader campaign to muzzle the youth and discourage political activism.
"This is not just an attack on Rose. It is a continuation of the attack on the youth of this country. It is an attempt to stifle their courage, their innovative spirit, and their belief in the power of their own voices," he added.
Gachagua also took issue with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen who has proposed legislation to criminalize what he called 'fake abductions'.
"Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen’s recent call to criminalise so-called ‘fake abductions’ is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to suppress dissent. Who decides what is ‘fake’? The same administration where the President and his top officials dismissed reports of abductions as fake news or self-inflicted, only to quietly admit the truth under public pressure? he posed.
The former DP also warned that such actions could erode public trust and endanger the rights of victims and whistleblowers.
"If the state can so easily lie and dismiss abductions as hoaxes and then prosecute those who speak out, what recourse remains for victims or their families? This is a calculated move to manage public outrage and suppress criticism by turning the pursuit of justice into a punishable offence," he noted.
In a final rallying call, Gachagua urged Kenyans to defend their freedoms, further demanding the immediate release of Njeri.
"Now, more than ever, Kenyans must remain vigilant. We must speak up for our rights and for each other. I call for the immediate release of Rose Njeri and urge all Kenyans to stand together against the silencing of our voices. Our future depends on it.
"Ironically and curiously, this is the same administration shedding crocodile tears on GenZs and their blood and pretending to ask for forgiveness melancholically, 'If there is any misstep, we apologize...'," he concluded.
