Activist Njeri to be charged with spamming Parliament system

Activist Rose Njeri Tunguru is set to be charged with unauthorised interference with a computer system in violation of Section 16 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, No. 5 of 2018. 

This follows allegations that she developed and used an online programme to disrupt official parliamentary systems.

According to the official charge sheet, the alleged offence occurred on May 19, 2025, at an unspecified location within Kenya at around 8:01 pm.

Investigators claim that Njeri “knowingly created a programme hosted at https://civic-email.vercel.app/ that automatically generated and sent mass emails to [email protected], which is the official system of the finance committee, thereby interfering with the normal functioning of the systems.”

Police state that these emails, sent in bulk through the programme, interfered with the normal functioning of the committee’s systems. 

Njeri was arrested on May 30, 2025, in South B, Nairobi. 

The charge sheet indicates she was apprehended without a warrant and was processed by cybercrime officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

The charge sheet lists the prosecution’s key witnesses as digital forensics experts from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), cybercrime analysts, and the arresting and investigating officers from the Serious Crimes Unit (SCU) at DCI Headquarters.

The court set the case for mention later in June 2025 and released Njeri on bond as her legal team prepares to contest the charges.

Her arrest sparked tension, with several people and humanitarian groups, including former Chief Justice David Maraga and the Law Society of Kenya, coming together to condemn her arrest and detention and call for her immediate release.

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who visited Rose before the protest, said on his X account that apprehending Rose was not only unlawful but also went against her constitutional rights.

The Finance Bill 2025 proposes several key changes to enhance tax collection and simplify compliance.

It introduces tax deductibility for contributions to the Social Health Insurance Fund, affordable housing levy, and post-retirement medical funds, which could reduce taxable income for contributors.

The bill also plans to replace the current 1.5 per cent Digital Services Tax with a 20 per cent Significant Economic Presence Tax targeting foreign digital businesses, broadening the tax base.

Excise duties are adjusted, including a 10 per cent levy on money transfer services, 15 per cent on alcohol and betting advertisements, and 5 per cent on imported sugar, except for pharmaceutical use.

Additionally, the Kenya Revenue Authority will have greater access to financial data, such as mobile money statements, to better detect tax evasion. These proposals aim to strengthen revenue but have raised concerns over privacy and business impact.