By TWV Team
Software developer Rose Njeri Tunguru, who was arrested in May for creating a simple online tool enabling Kenyans to email officials in protest against the controversial Finance Bill, has gained global recognition after being listed in this year’s Time100Next by Time magazine.
Just days after she announced the tool on X, Njeri was detained and accused of violating cybercrime laws.
In its citation, Time magazine noted that her arrest and the seizure of her devices sparked mass uproar and global headlines, as human rights organisations, including Amnesty International Kenya, called for her release. The coverage drew widespread attention to her original X post, which has since been viewed nearly one million times.
Njeri was released in June after spending four nights in custody. Later that month, a court ruled that the charges against her were baseless.
“Now, this software developer who never expected her tool to go viral, let alone become a symbol of resistance, is embracing her new role,” Time wrote. Njeri herself added, “Authorities want to ignore us as if we are not part of the process as citizens. We shouldn’t just sit back and watch.”
