Historic Day As Kenyan-Born Lucy Gichuhi Confirmed As Australian Senator

Kenyan-born lawyer Lucy Gichuhi has been elected to fill the South Australia Senate seat vacancy created after the High Court ruled Bob Day's election to the Senate was invalid. A special recount was conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission in Adelaide on Thursday.Ms Gichuhi released a statement which said that the "recount has confirmed that I, Lucy Gichuhi, have been elected to represent the state of South Australia in the Australian Senate"."I am honoured and grateful for this opportunity to serve Australia. I see it as an opportunity to give back to this great nation"."I do not intend on commenting on the processes that have brought us to this point. As a lawyer, I am deeply respectful of both the legal and electoral processes," she said."I am an Australian citizen and am eligible to serve. I will continue to take advice on all of these matters as we move forward.”There are reports that ALP is considering challenging her eligibility when the matter returns to the High Court next week to make a final determination on Mr Day's replacement.

If all is cleared in the High Court next week, Lucy is due to be sworn-in on May 9, when parliament resumes after its autumn break.

The Adelaide-based lawyer, who was Family First’s No 2 South Australian candidate at the July election, received Mr Day’s votes in the recount, all but confirming her the upper house seat and $200,000-a-year job.

While questions have been raised about her eligibility to be elected after she refused to clarify when she renounced her Kenyan citizenship, the country’s High commission has said she “never applied for dual citizenship”.

Under the Constitution, a person with dual citizenship cannot be elected.

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Ms Gichuhi migrated to Australia with her family in 1999 and became involved with Family First soon after it began in 2001.

After failing to secure a seat at the election, she had “moved on” and volunteered as a family lawyer with the Women’s Legal Service for the past several months.