- Elisha Ongoya spoke about his background, his work, and the fame he gained after the dismissal of the former vice president Rigathi Gachagua
- Ongoya expressed his willingness to meet content creators who have been deceiving him and his work performance
- He discussed the challenges of fame for himself and those around him, as well as the legacy he wants to leave
Lawyer Elisha Ongoya has opened up about his life and work before and after the dismissal of the former vice president Rigathi Gachaguawho defended him zealously.
Source: Youtube
Born in Vihiga County in 1975, Ongoya is known as a calm and attentive lawyer who serves all clients equally regardless of their situation.
He started his legal career in 2000.
How did Ongoya become more famous?
Ongoya gained great popularity among Kenyans after he forcefully asked questions to Kibwezi West Member of Parliament, Mwengi Mutuse, during the deliberations on the dismissal of Gachagua in October 2024.
He has been a source of inspiration for many young Kenyans, especially content creators TikTok.
Ongoya revealed that he has tried several times to meet those who abuse him online.
“I have tried my best to follow these young people so that I can have lunch with them and find out what drives them. The young people use my image, my voice, and my performance in their creative arts and, as a result, they earn a living. That makes me very proud. I think it is a contribution that I have to society,” he said during an interview with KTN News Sunday, December 20.
However, he defined it as a saying ‘Yes, I am with us,’ which spread among the youth, was not used during questioning for more than an hour.
“Are you with us?”: Elisha Ongoya talks about the popularity after Gachagua was replaced According to him, the saying is only a creation of social networks.
How did the Gachagua case affect Ongoya?
He admitted that the Senate deliberations exposed him, despite being a private person, and since then he has learned to accept the fame.
“Every time I pass by the store, someone shouts from the corner, ‘Are you with us.’ I would have been happier if I had retained the privacy I saw. That is a loss I suffered, but now I have come to accept it. My daughter often can’t understand why I can’t wear a mask when we go through town, because she can’t imagine the number of eyes looking at us and how many people are shouting at us. It is something we cannot overcome but must accept as a new reality,” he added.
In addition to the Gachagua case, he has represented governors who faced dismissal, including Kericho governor Eric Mutai and the former governor of Meru. Kawira Mwangaza.
Despite his fame, Ongoya noted that he never wanted to be remembered for asking tough questions that he did in many cases.
“I never wanted to be remembered for asking tough questions because I wasn’t there to insult others. I want to be remembered for one simple principle: that with my presence, someone breathed easier,” he said.
Source: Facebook
Did Elisha Ongoya take action against those who humiliate him?
Recently, a few days after the dismissal case, Ongoya filed a formal complaint with the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and the Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) regarding 58 social media accounts that humiliated him.
The accounts were used to spread false or dangerous information, deceiving the public. Ongoya urged the CAK to fully investigate the IP addresses associated with the fake accounts and order them to be closed or cooperate with the relevant service providers to remove them.
He expressed concern about the damage that can be caused by his detractors, who often spread false information.
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