- Elisha Ongoya spoke about his origin, career, and fame after the impeachment of the former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua
- Ongoya expressed his willingness to meet content creators who have been impersonating him and his work performances
- He discussed the challenges of fame for himself and his circle, and what he wants his legacy to be
Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features in digital and print media.
Senior counsel Elisha Ongoya has opened up about his life and career before and after the impeachment of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, whom he fiercely defended.
Source: Youtube
Born in Vihiga County in 1975, Ongoya is known as a calm and focused lawyer who delivers equal service to all clients, regardless of their status. He began his law career in 2000.
How did Ongoya gain more prominence?
Ongoya rose to greater popularity among Kenyans after his fierce cross-examination of Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse during Gachagua’s impeachment proceedings in October 2024.
He has become a source of inspiration to many Kenyan youths, particularly content creators on TikTok. Ongoya revealed that he has tried several times to meet those who impersonate him online.
“I have tried as much as possible to trace those young people so that I can have lunch with them and learn what inspires them. Young people use my imagery, tone, and work performance in their creative arts and, in consequence, make a living. That makes me very proud. I think it is a contribution I am making to society,” he said during an interview with KTN News on Sunday, December 20.
However, he clarified that the phrase ‘Yes, I am with us,’ which went viral among the youth, was never mentioned during the more than one-hour cross-examination.
According to him, it was purely a creation of social media.
How did the Gachagua case affect Ongoya’s life?
He admitted that the Senate proceedings exposed him, despite being a private man, and he has since learned to embrace the attention.
“Every time I walk through a supermarket, somebody shouts from a corner, ‘Are you with us.’ I would have been happier if I had retained the privacy I enjoyed all along. That is a loss I have suffered, but I am increasingly comfortable with it now.
My daughter often wonders why I cannot put on a face mask as we walk through town, because she cannot imagine how many stares we receive and how many people shout at us. It is something we cannot beat but must accept as our new reality,” he added.
Beyond the Gachagua case, he has represented governors who faced impeachment, including Kericho governor Eric Mutai and former Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza.
Despite his popularity, Ongoya noted that he had never wanted to be remembered through the fierce cross-examinations he had conducted on multiple cases.
“I never wanted to be remembered for cross-examination because I do not exist to torment other human beings. I want to be remembered for one simple principle: that by virtue of my existence, somebody breathed easier,” he noted.
Source: Facebook
Did Elisha Ongoya take action against impersonators?
Meanwhile, days after the impeachment case, Ongoya lodged a formal complaint with the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over 58 fraudulent social media accounts that impersonated him.
The accounts were allegedly used to spread false or harmful information, misleading the public.
Ongoya called for a full investigation into the IP addresses linked to the fake accounts and urged the CAK to either shut them down directly or work with the respective service providers to have them removed.
He expressed concern about the potential damage caused by the impersonators, whose posts frequently spread misinformation.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
