Kabarak law students describe Elisha Ongoya as a strict, witty but kind lecturer

At the Senate hearing regarding the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua yesterday (Wednesday), one man stood out from the rest. Advocate Elisha Ongoya.

His eloquence, confidence and unforgettable questioning style made him the man of the hour.

From the way he grilled Mr. Mwengi Mutuse, his quirky quips and theatrical flair sparked conversation on social media platforms.

Mtaa Wangu has learnt that the counsel is a lecturer at Kabarak University.

@tekin_saeko a user at X said, “The country is getting a taste of the kind of questioning we received from E Ongoya in class. He once asked my classmate, when do you propose to mature.”

Through a phone call interview, we got to speak to Tekin Fidel the owner of the tweet, who says that Mr Ongoya’s demeanour at the Senate was the same in the lecture room.

“Whenever he gave you an assignment and he realized you did not do it, then you would be in hot soup. You would end up being at the receiving end of his rhetorical questions which were not very pleasant. If he found you in the wrong, he would correct you. Although he would use plain English, the delivery in itself would be very poetic,” he recalls.

Tekin describes Mr Ongoya as a very supportive lecturer adding that his lectures were very engaging.

"There was a time we were undertaking a unit called jurisprudence which is basically the study of knowledge. The main question being, how do you know you know?"

He continues, "The class went on for over an hour. At some point Mr Ongoya asked my fellow student, how he got to know of something with regards to this and the student said it is according to his father. So he asked him, if we comb through the Judicature act right now, will we find your father’s name as one of the sources of law in Kenya? “ he says.

Tekin says that his lecturer also understood the life of a comrade and he would sometimes buy them lunch.

“One time he took us to his house and told us that he managed to build his house from the money he got from practicing law. This was just a way of encouraging us that in the end, if we work hard and put effort in our studies we will be successful,” he notes.

Karen Birech, a law student at the university also shares the same sentiments as Fidel Tekin, saying that the lecturer not only strived to help them become good lawyers, but also better human beings who would make a difference in the lives of others.

“Mr Ongoya never entertained mediocrity when it comes to work. He would use local events in the country and connect it to the topic of study and this really helped us relate and understand what he was teaching us,” she says.

“You had to read before his classes. If he would point at you and you do not answer his question, then you would see the rough side of Elisha Ongoya,” Karen adds.

Mirian Machuka another Kabarak student says he is very free with students.

“During Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s, impeachment case, he took us for lunch and during that period we were able to ask him questions on the case. This helped us a lot in the long run,” she says.

 “Mr Ongoya always says that while questioning individuals, there are only two responses to accept. Its either a Yes or a No," she concludes.