- Elisha Ongoya has built his legal career on constitutionalism, deep research and disciplined preparation rather than courtroom theatrics.
- Ongoya has defended Governor Kawira Mwangaza and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in separate Senate impeachment trials.
If you are in secondary school and dream of becoming a lawyer, one name you should study today is Prof. Elisha Ongoya. The lawyer who became famous during the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in the Senate in October 2024 is more than a courtroom orator. He is a scholar, teacher and a product of discipline.
Prof. Elisha Zebedee Ongoya was born on April 15, 1975, in Esirabe Village, Emuhaya Constituency, Vihiga County. He comes from the Luhya community and remains closely connected to his rural roots. His early education began at St. Paul’s Ikahlika Primary School in Emuhaya, before he joined the prestigious Musingu High School in Kakamega, a school known for academic excellence and discipline. He later joined the University of Nairobi, Parklands Campus, where he earned both a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) and a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Public Law, specialising in Constitutional and Administrative Law. He was admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya in the year 2000. To strengthen his academic leadership, he further studied Management of Higher Learning at the Galilee International Management Institute (GIMI) in Israel in 2017.
Today, Ongoya wears many hats. He is a Partner at Ongoya & Wambola Advocates, a Senior Lecturer at Kabarak University School of Law in Nakuru, and a guest lecturer at other universities including Strathmore University. He is also the founder of the Avid Readers Forum (ARF) at Kabarak University, a student club that promotes a culture of reading, critical thinking, debate and legal reasoning. Long before the Gachagua case, he had built a strong reputation. He successfully defended Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza in two separate impeachment trials before the Senate, allowing her to retain her seat. He was also part of the legal team that successfully challenged the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) that sought to amend the 2010 Constitution.
What sets Ongoya apart are his personal beliefs and principles. He strongly believes in constitutionalism and the rule of law, holding that the Constitution must be respected even when it is inconvenient to the powerful. He is a follower of Socratic philosophy. During both the Mwangaza and Gachagua trials, he reminded Senators of Socrates’ words that four things belong to a judge: to listen courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially. He believes justice requires patience and fairness, not emotions or political pressure. He also believes that knowledge is superior to noise. His power in court comes not from shouting but from deep research, reading and logical argument. Despite his success, he remains humble and committed to mentorship, choosing to continue teaching undergraduates because he sees law as a service to society, not just a business.
For secondary school learners who aspire to join the legal profession, there are clear lessons to learn from his life.
First, master English and debate early. Ongoya’s greatest strength is eloquence and cross-examination. During the Gachagua trial, he exposed gaps in the allegations by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse through calm, logical questions that revealed contradictions. Learners should therefore join debate clubs, Model United Nations and essay competitions to sharpen these skills.
Second, become an avid reader. Ongoya created the Avid Readers Forum because he believes lawyers are made in the library. A future lawyer should read not only law, but also history, philosophy, literature and daily newspapers to understand society.
Third, understand that discipline beats talent. Ongoya’s journey from a village primary school to national television took over thirty years of consistent hard work. He did not become famous overnight. For a secondary school learner, this means focusing on KCSE performance, since law in Kenya requires a B+ mean grade and above with a strong score in English.
Fourth, preparation is everything. In court, Ongoya never guesses. When the mover of the motion claimed Gachagua owned property worth 5.2 billion shillings, Ongoya demanded proof and documents, eventually showing that the key property, Vipingo Beach Resort, belonged to Gachagua’s late brother. This teaches learners to always argue with facts, not assumptions.
Fifth, dare to defend the unpopular and defend due process. A lawyer’s duty is to ensure the process is fair, whether the client is popular or not. He defended Mwangaza when many thought she would fall, and defended Gachagua when Parliament was largely against him.
Sixth, combine law with teaching and service. Ongoya shows that you can practice in court and still teach in class. Learners can start now by tutoring classmates and explaining difficult concepts to others, which deepens their own understanding.
ALSO READ: Stop inspecting teachers, start monitoring learning: The academic system every school needs
Finally, integrity is your real licence. Ongoya is respected because his arguments are grounded in law, not insults or propaganda. In an age of social media noise, learners must learn to be truthful and respectful even to opponents.
You do not need to come from Nairobi or a wealthy family to become a top lawyer. Elisha Ongoya came from Esirabe, walked to Ikahlika Primary, excelled at Musingu High and read his way to the High Court. If you are in secondary school today and want to be a lawyer, start now by reading widely, speaking confidently, writing clearly, respecting the Constitution, and making discipline your daily habit.
By Enock Okong’o
Get more stories from our website: Education News
To write to us or offer feedback, you can reach us at: editor@educationnews.co.ke
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
