Senior counsel Pheroze Nowrojee is dead
Nowrojee passed away on Saturday morning in the US at the age of 84.
1d agoMAGDALINE SAYARealtime
Senior Counsel Pheroze died at the age of 84.
He was born in 1941 in Nairobi, 45 years after his grandfather arrived in East Africa in April 1896 as an engine driver for the Uganda Railway.
He studied in India, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA) at Yale University.
Pheroze was an Advocate of the High Courts of Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar with a practice mainly in constitutional, political and human rights cases.
The seasoned lawyer also made appearances in the High Courts of Uganda and the Seychelles.
Besides being a giant in the courtroom, Pheroze taught at the University of Dar-es-Salaam (1974-1977), the University of Nairobi (1979-1985), and the Kenya School of Law (1968-1970, 1978-1985).
He was an author, having penned four books, including Pio Gama Pinto: Patriot for Social Justice, A Vote for Kenya: The Elections and the Constitution, A Kenyan Journey and Conserving the Intangible.
In recognition of his work, Pheroze was subject to a couple of awards.
These include International Commission of Jurists (Kenya) ICJ Jurist of the Year, 1995, the International Bar Association (IBA) Bernard Simons Human Rights Prize, 2002-2004, the Law Society of Kenya Roll of Honour, 2005, the Maasai People, Safeguarding Rights Award, 2007, and the CB Madan Constitution Prize 2014.
Pheroze was a BBC Africa Poetry Competition Prizewinner in 2001.
He was the Vice-Chair of the Ufungamano People’s Commission on Constitutional Reform 2000–2001.
He was a Co-Chair of the Asian African Heritage Trust, an Indian Diaspora/Kenyan history trust.
According to ICJ, when the idea of creating a permanent headquarters for the Kenyan office began to take shape, Pheroze became the driving force behind turning that dream into a reality.
ICJ said that in his leadership and generosity, he rallied support from his closest circles, family and trusted friends, raising substantial funds that laid the foundation for what would become the ICJ Kenya House.
In July 2019, this vision was realized with the official opening of the office.
Pheroze has been described as a gentle giant and a defender of democracy, justice, and liberation.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Faith Odhiambo described Nowrojee as a man of irrefutable poise and honourable character, whose life exemplified duty to service and dedication to Justice.
"Our hearts sink today, for we have lost one of the greatest to have ever done it. As we honour this bastion of constitutionalism, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and every person whose life he touched. May Senior Counsel Pheroze Nowrojee rest in eternal peace," Odhiambo said.
"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!" lawyer and Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo said.
Dr Roseline Akombe mourned Nowrojee as a brilliant legal mind who argued his cases in Court 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 that we must emulate.
President William Ruto praised Nowrojee as “a long-serving advocate, decorated constitutional lawyer and veteran defender of human rights.”
“Mr Nowrojee was universally respected for his principled commitment to the advancement of democracy, protection of fundamental rights and freedoms and the promotion of constitutionalism and the rule of law,” Ruto said.
“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. I send condolences to the family of the late Nowrojee and pray that they take comfort from the fact that his spirit, passion and vision shall endure for generations through his exemplary legacy.”
