Kenyan-born and Australia’s first member of Federal Parliament of African descent, Lucy Gichuhi has been sworn-in as South Australian Senator.
Gichuhi was sworn-in on Tuesday when she attended her first sitting at the Senate as Family’s First member.
She succeeded Bob Day who resigned from the seat six months ago after one of his companies was liquidated.
Soon after she was sworn in, the Kenyan-born lawyer posted on her facebook page how happy she was to finally be in the Senate.
“I am honoured and humbled to be sworn in today as the first-ever person of black African descent in the Australian parliament.”
I thank God, my husband and daughters, my father and all other friends, family and supporters for your encouragement, and sharing the vision we hold to unite Australia as one,” read the post.
Labor had moved to court to challenge her eligibility to become South Australian Senator putting to question her citizenship.
However, Gichuhi renounced her Kenyan citizenship and applied for Australian citizenship.
She flew to Australia back in 1999 together with her three daughters and husband. In 2001, she joined Family First when it was setting up.
She has been practicing law at Adelaide since she got to Australia.
