Legal fraternity honours Nowrojee in special court proceedings

Legal fraternity honours Nowrojee

The legal fraternity held special court proceedings in honour of the late Senior Counsel Pheroze Nowrojee.

Chief Justice Martha Koome led a bench of judges comprising of Court of Appeal President Justice Daniel Musinga and Principal Judges Oscar Angote (ELC), Eric Ogola (High Court) and Byram Ongaya (ELRC), in honour of the late Senior Counsel.

CJ Koome said the tradition of conducting Closing of File Proceedings for departed colleagues at the Bar and the Bench is intended to serve as a symbolic reminder to both the members of the bench and bar that they are called to serve as missionaries in the temple of justice.

The CJ noted that beyond litigation, Senior Counsel Pheroze Nowrojee’s legacy includes a rich contribution to legal education, mentorship, and public discourse.

“He taught law at the University of Dar es Salaam, the University of Nairobi, and the Kenya School of Law, influencing generations of lawyers and judges. He mentored countless young advocates, many of whom now hold senior positions in the Bar and the Bench.” CJ Koome said.

She described Nowrojee as a passionate defender of constitutionalism and human rights saying that he 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. Mr. 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.”

The CJ added that his role in challenging state overreach, censorship, and detentions without trial contributed significantly to what we always called Kenya’s Second Liberation.

Legal practitioners who paid tribute to the late Senior Counsel Pheroze Nowrojee described him as an independent, firm, courageous and courteous legal professional.

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