Veteran lawyer and renowned human rights advocate Pheroze Nowrojee has died at the age of 84, sparking tributes across Kenya’s legal and political circles.
The news of his passing was announced on Saturday, April 5, by Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, who expressed his sadness over the loss of a legal giant.
“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!” Amollo said.
Nowrojee, widely respected for his courtroom eloquence, was more than just a lawyer—he was a teacher, mentor, poet, and defender of justice.
Former IEBC commissioner Dr. Roselyn Akombe remembered him as a brilliant legal mind with a strong moral compass. “A giant has fallen today,” she said. “Senior Counsel Pheroze Nowrojee was a brilliant legal mind who argued his cases with eloquence and humor. As a fighter for human rights and good governance, a Pan-Africanist, a scholar, and a writer, he leaves behind a rich legacy.”
Dr. Akombe also recalled his stirring support for youth-led movements, saying, “I fondly remember his powerful speech in Atlanta, Georgia, where he stood firmly with the Gen Zs in their revolution.”
Former Central Imenti MP Gitobu Imanyara described Nowrojee as both a mentor and a patriot. “What a loss to the legal profession and to this country,” he said. “As we mourn his death, let us also celebrate an exemplary life well lived.”
Lawyer Willis Otieno called him “measured, brilliant, and dignified,” highlighting Nowrojee’s lasting impact on Kenya’s legal and human rights landscape. “His words stirred minds, his actions changed lives. Kenya bows in honour. Rest in power, Senior,” Otieno said.
Nowrojee’s legal career spanned decades. He was admitted as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya in 1967, of Tanzania in 1970, and of Zanzibar in 1989. He also represented clients in Uganda and the Seychelles, gaining recognition across East Africa.
Beyond the courtroom, he was a legal scholar, teaching at the University of Dar es Salaam (1974–1977), the University of Nairobi (1979–1985), and the Kenya School of Law at various points from 1968 to 1985.
His death marks the end of an era for Kenya’s legal community, but his legacy as a defender of rights and justice will live on.
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