Kenyans expressed anger at the detention of software developers, which created a tool to help people oppose the government’s annual financial bill for fear that it would increase the cost of living.
The activists say Rose Njeri was detained after police raided her home in the capital Nairobi on Friday.
Police and the government have not commented on the mothers who detained both.
Massive protests broke out after the government proposed a tax rate hike last year, forcing President William Ruto to withdraw the 2024 financial bill.
The bill outlines the government’s spending priorities for the next fiscal year and how it intends to boost revenue.
At least 50 people were killed and dozens were kidnapped in a crackdown by security forces to end the protests that broke out last year.
Kenya Bar Association (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo told the BBC News Day radio program that Ms. Enjeri’s detention was a “recurrence of dictatorship”.
A group of activists gathered outside a police station in Nairobi on Sunday, which was held by the software developer and asked her to release.
Ms. Odiambo said Ms. Njerry, who was visiting the jail by activists, was “topped” because Monday was a public holiday and she has not been sued for court.
She added that attempts to release her via bail failed.
“It has been a way of oppressing, threatening and suppressing citizens because they know the courts are not sitting on weekends – now we have a public holiday.”
Boniface Mwangi, one of the militants who visited Ms Njeri’s detention, told them that police had ransacked her house and took her phone, laptop and hard drive.
He said she was worried about her two children.
“Imagine having to tell her child that she was jailed for developing a website that alleviated public participation of Kenyans who hope to submit their proposals on the 2025 budget,” he said on X.
Ms Njeri was detained after sharing a link to a website marked in the bill, which she said would result in a escalating cost of living. It also allows people to email Parliament by emailing, demanding the bill to be withdrawn.
She also raised concerns about the proposal to modify the tax process, allowing tax agencies to access personal data without a court order, could undermine privacy rights.
The new financial bill replaces zero-rating taxes on basic commodities with tax exempt status.
Zero-rated goods are taxed at a 0% rate, and suppliers do not charge customers VAT (VAT) but can still require VAT to be invested on the materials that produce these goods.
Economists and activists say tax-free goods are not subject to VAT, but suppliers cannot ask for a return of imported VAT, which can lead to higher prices for consumers or lower profit margins for businesses and activists.
Finance Minister John Mbadi recently admitted that duty-free goods may be “a little bit more expensive”, but explained that the move is necessary to close tax loopholes.
He said the government has determined that traders will not transfer the benefits of zero ratings to consumers, while some have made “fictional and false” claims about refunds.
Mbadi plans to propose government spending and tax recommendations in parliament next week.
Last week, Ruto apologized to Kenyan Youth for dealing with them since taking office in 2022.
Last month, he said all the kidnapped people were “returned to their families” after last year’s protests on interest rate hikes.
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