Kenyan-native lawyer Lucy Gichuhi is now the new South Australia’s Senator. The seat had been made vacant by the high court’s order for a special recount after her fellow Family First candidate Bob Day was declared illegally elected.
South Australia’s Electoral Commission conducted a recount on Thursday declaring Lucy the first person of African descent to be elected to Australia’s federal parliament.
Bob Day’s election was referred to the High Court that determined he had breached section 44 of the constitution in having an indirect financial interest in the lease of his Adelaide electorate office. The Guardian reports. He resigned before the ruling was made.
The High Court is, however, considering questions raised about her citizenship, and Mrs. Gichuhi might face a challenge if it is determined that she at some point held dual citizenship, but she maintained that she has never at any time been a dual citizen.
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“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. 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.” Gichuhi said according to ABC’s report.
This has been a special kind of case and a ”complicated one” as the acting Attorney General calls it.
“After obtaining legal advice from senior counsel, the ALP is considering making a further submission on this matter when the Court of Disputed Returns considers it again next week,” said Acting shadow attorney-general Katy Gallagher.
Mrs. Gichuhi relocated to Australia in 1999 from Kenya with her husband and three children and has been a volunteer lawyer.