The legal fraternity assembled at the Supreme Court on Wednesday to honour the late Senior Counsel Pheroze Nowrojee, a towering figure in Kenya’s legal landscape. Chief Justice Martha Koome led a five-judge bench during the solemn Special File Closing ceremony held in his memory.

Nowrojee, widely respected for his fierce advocacy for human rights and justice, passed away in the United States on April 5, 2025, aged 84. His daughter, lawyer Binaifer Nowrojee, confirmed that his ashes had since been brought back to Kenya after his cremation.

The tribute, held on the court’s grounds, brought together judges from various levels of the judiciary. Among them were Court of Appeal President Justice Daniel Musinga and Principal Judges Oscar Angote (Environment and Land Court), Eric Ogola (High Court), and Byram Ongaya (Employment and Labour Relations Court).

The ceremony was also graced by Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo, Senior Counsel Dr. Fred Ojiambo who chairs the Senior Counsel Bar Senior Counsel Martha Karua, and former Attorney General Prof. Githu Muigai.

Describing Nowrojee as a beacon of integrity and a lifelong defender of the Constitution, Chief Justice Koome said such proceedings serve as a symbolic reminder to members of the legal profession that their calling is one of service to justice.

“Mr. Nowrojee was a fearless defender of civil liberties, especially during Kenya’s darkest political chapters in the 1980s and 1990s. He never shied away from confronting oppressive regimes, despite the personal risks involved,” said Koome.

She went on to reflect on his unique approach to the law: “He didn’t treat law as a mere technicality but saw it as a force for good—a shield for the vulnerable and a sword against injustice. His relentless efforts against state excesses and unlawful detentions made him a key figure in what we refer to as Kenya’s Second Liberation.”

A public memorial is scheduled for Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Louis Leakey Auditorium, National Museums of Kenya.

His daughter, Sia Nowrojee, described the upcoming event as a heartfelt reflection of the overwhelming love and support the family has received since his death.

The judiciary has previously conducted similar honours for other departed legal luminaries, including Lady Justice Beatrice Thuranira Jaden, who died in 2022 while undergoing treatment in India, and lawyer Willie Kimani, whose life was tragically cut short in 2016. A tribute in Kimani’s name was held in June 2023.