Pheroze Nowrojee
Pheroze Nowrojee (1941–2025) was a Kenyan lawyer and a human rights defender.[1] He served as a senior counsel and advocate of the High courts of Kenya, Zanzibar, and Tanzania, specifically practicing human rights, political and constitutional defense.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Pheroze Nowrojee was born in 1941 in a family of Indian descent. His grandfather arrived in East Africa in April 1896 during the construction of the Kenya-Uganda railway line.[3]
He attended the Catholic Parochial School in Nairobi for his primary education and Billimorja High School in India for his High school studies. Upon completion he joined Bombay University in Tanzania and later pursued a Master of Laws in Yale University in the United States.[1]
Career
[edit]Pheroze's legal career began in 1965 when he was admitted to the bar. He also lectured law at the University of Dar-es-Salaam between 1974-1977 the University of Nairobi in 1979 upto 1985, and the Kenya School of Law between 1968 to 1970, and 1978 to 1985.[4]
Published Works
[edit]Pheroze authored four books.[5]
- Pio Gama Pinto: Patriot for Social Justice
- A Vote for Kenya: The Elections and the Constitution
- A Kenyan Journey
- Conserving the Intangible
Awards
[edit]Pheroze received various awards in his legal profession including:[1]
- International Commission Of Jurists (Kenya) IJ 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
- The Cb Madan Constitution Prize 2014
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Comms, ICJ Kenya (5 April 2025). "Pheroze Nowrojee: Legal Titan, Human Rights Defender, and Voice of Conscience - ICJ Kenya". Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- ^ "The life of renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Counsel Pheroze Nowrojee". Daily Nation. 9 April 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- ^ "Who was renowned human right lawyer Pheroze Nowrojee". The Star. Archived from the original on 7 April 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- ^ "Legal fraternity honours Nowrojee in special court proceedings – The Judiciary". Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- ^ "A Kenyan Journey: Pheroze Nowrojee's book exposes the politics of belonging". Daily Nation. 5 July 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2026.