Special court session held to honour late Senior Counsel Pheroze Nowrojee

Nowrojee, a distinguished legal titan, passed away in the US on April 5, 2025 at the age of 84 and was cremated, with his ashes having been returned to Kenya, according to his daughter, lawyer Binaifer Nowrojee. 

The Special File Closing proceedings conducted on Supreme Court grounds on Wednesday comprised of judges from various courts, Court of Appeal President Justice Daniel Musinga and Principal Judges Oscar Angote (ELC), Eric Ogola (High Court) and Byram Ongaya (ELRC). Also in attendance were Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Faith Odhiambo, Dr. Fred Ojiambo who is the chair of the Senior Counsel Bar, Senior Counsel Martha Karua and former Attorney General Professor Githu Muigai among others. 

The late Nowrojee was known for being a passionate defender of human rights and the rule of law.

Chief Justice Martha Koome explained that the proceedings, in the context of deceased legal practitioners is usually done with the intent of serving as a symbolic reminder to legal practitioners that they are called to be “missionaries in the temple of justice”. 

“A passionate defender of constitutionalism and human rights, Mr. Nowrojee was among the few legal minds who fearlessly challenged authoritarianism during Kenya’s most repressive years, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s. He stood on the frontline of battles for civil liberties, undeterred by the personal risks involved,” Koome eulogized Nowrojee.

“Nowrojee understood the law not as a technical tool, but as an instrument of justice, a shield for the oppressed, and a sword against impunity. His role in challenging state overreach, censorship, and detentions without trial contributed significantly to what we always called Kenya’s Second Liberation,” added the Chief Justice. 

A memorial is set to be held Thursday evening from 3pm at the Louis Leakey Auditorium of the National Museum of Kenya. 

Sia, the late counsel’s second child noted that the long-awaited memorial will serve as a representation of the love they’ve received as a family since his passing.

Other legal professionals who have had similar proceedings held in their honour include the late Lady Justice Beatrice Thuranira Jayden who passed away in 2022 while receiving treatment in India and lawyer Willie Kimani who was murdered in 2016 and the proceedings held in June 2023, seven years after his passing.