He is a member of the Orange Democratic Movement and was elected as the first Governor of Kisii County Government on the ODM ticket in March 2013 - August 2022.
Ongwae was born in Mwamonari Location, Marani District, Kitutu Chache North Constituency, Kisii County in the year 1952.
He then became an Immigration Officer, then Management Analyst and lastly served as Director of Civil Service Reform Programme.
[6] Ongwae participated in competitive politics for the first time when he vied for the Member of Parliament seat of Kitutu Chache Constituency, Kisii County in the general elections of December 2007.
[7] In August 2017, he vied for the seat for the second term where he faced five opponents among them: Chris Obure of Jubilee Party of Kenya, Boniface Omboto of Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC), Manson Nyamweya of Kenya National Congress (KNC), Patrick Lumumba of Wiper Democratic Movement and Omingo Magara of People's Democratic Party (PDP).