NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya has lost more than a lawyer—it has lost a legacy.
On Saturday, April 5, 2025, Senior Counsel Pheroze Nowrojee, one of the most influential legal minds in the country’s history, passed away at the age of 84.
He was known not just for his courtroom brilliance, but also for his unwavering dedication to constitutionalism, human rights, and social justice.
His death marks the end of an era, but his life story reads like a masterclass in courage, scholarship, and service.
Born in Nairobi in 1941, just a generation after his grandfather arrived in East Africa as a railway worker, Nowrojee’s journey from a colonial-era child to a constitutional law icon is the stuff of legend.
He studied law across continents—from India to the UK, and finally at Yale University in the U.S.—before becoming an Advocate of the High Courts of Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar.
His legal footprint didn’t stop at borders. Nowrojee appeared before the High Courts of Uganda and Seychelles, often handling high-stakes constitutional and political cases that shaped modern East African jurisprudence.
From the frontlines of courtroom battles to the quiet halls of academia, he served as a lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam (1974–1977), the University of Nairobi (1979–1985), and the Kenya School of Law during two separate stints.
But it wasn’t just about teaching law—it was about shaping generations of legal thinkers. “Quite saddened to learn that my senior, senior counsel Pheroze Nowrojee has passed on!
A quintessential advocate who presented the best in court advocacy. Rest in power, senior!” — Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo
Beyond the Courtroom: Legacy in Ink and Action
If the courtroom was his battlefield, the pen was his second weapon of choice.
Nowrojee authored four influential books, including Pio Gama Pinto: Patriot for Social Justice and A Vote for Kenya: The Elections and the Constitution, blending history, law, and social commentary with the ease of a seasoned storyteller.
His commitment to justice wasn’t just rhetorical. He helped birth institutions—quite literally.
When the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Kenya dreamed of having a permanent headquarters, it was Nowrojee who led the fundraising effort.
His influence and connections made ICJ Kenya House a reality in 2019, an act that reflected both his leadership and generosity.
“He leaves behind a rich legacy that we must emulate,” said Dr. Roseline Akombe, honoring his Pan-Africanism and legal eloquence.
Over the years, he accumulated accolades like the ICJ Jurist of the Year (1995), IBA Bernard Simons Human Rights Prize (2002–2004), LSK Roll of Honour (2005), and the CB Madan Constitution Prize (2014).
Not to mention—because why not add poetry to the mix—he also won the BBC Africa Poetry Competition in 2001.
Whether it was chairing the Ufungamano People’s Commission on Constitutional Reform or co-leading the Asian African Heritage Trust, Nowrojee was more than just a lawyer—he was a bridge between generations, cultures, and ideals.
President William Ruto summed it up best: “With his death, the nation has lost a brilliant legal mind who has made undeniable positive contributions to the development of our vibrant democracy and human rights culture.”
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) echoed that sentiment, calling him “a man of irrefutable poise and honourable character, whose life exemplified duty to service and dedication to justice.”
Indeed, Kenya hasn’t just lost a Senior Counsel; it has lost a compass in its ongoing quest for democracy and rule of law.
And as the tributes pour in from across the political and legal spectrum, it’s clear: Pheroze Nowrojee wasn’t just part of Kenya’s legal history—he helped write it.
Pheroze Nowrojee’s story is not just a chapter in Kenya’s legal annals—it’s an entire volume. One filled with resilience, reform, and a relentless pursuit of what is right.
As Kenya bids farewell to its gentle giant, the echoes of his advocacy, his teachings, and his words will linger in the courtrooms, classrooms, and conversations for years to come.
Rest in power, Senior Counsel. Your legacy is the law—and it lives on.
