Renowned Lawyer and Human Rights advocate Pheroze Nowrojee has passed on at the age of 84.
The veteran lawyer’s demise has been confirmed by fellow lawyers after news of his demise filtered through on the evening of Saturday, April 5, 2025.
He was the oldest practicing lawyer in Kenya before his death.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has led the outpouring of tribute to the legal mainstay whose illustrious career spanned across and transcended beyond the boundaries of Kenya.
In its statement dated Saturday, April 5, 2025, LSK president Faith Odhiambo termed the lawyer’s demise as sad day for the legal fraternity in Kenya.
“It is with immense sorrow and solemn reverence that the Law Society of Kenya acknowledges the passing of one of the most eminent legal minds and moral beacons of our time-Senior Counsel Pheroze Nowrojee,” part of the legal body’s statement read.
Tributes
“A teacher, mentor, human and constitutional rights lawyer, poet, writer, and unwavering defender of justice, SC Nowrojee leaves behind a legacy etched in the soul of our nation and the conscience of our legal profession.”
Norwojee’s counterparts in the legal field also took to social media to convey their sorrows.
“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 Member of Parliament (MP) Otiende Amollo’s statement on the lawyer read as posted on X.
“Senior-Most Advocate within the Republic of Kenya Pheroze Nowrojee is gone,” Senior Counsel James Orengo wrote on his Facebook page.
Born in Nairobi to a family of Asian origin, Norwojee joined the bar in 1965 and started his legal practice in 1967 following his admission to the Kenyan bar.
The development marked a start of a career that would transform the Kenya’s legal landscape and governance of institutions over the 50 years he practiced law.
Writer and Poet
He was a former chairman of Law Society of Kenya (LSK) in 1968 and was also enrolled as lawyer in Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Alongside James Orengo and others Nowrojee was part of the team that represented Raila Odinga’s petition before the Supreme Court after the 2022 elections.
Besides practising law, Nowrojee was also a writer and poet.
Among his works in the literary field include books such as Pio Gama Pinto: Patriot for Social Justice (2007), P ractising an Honourable Profession, A Vote for Kenya: The Elections and the Constitution (2013), A Kenyan Journey (2014), and Conserving the Intangible (2015).