Kenyan born woman sworn in as Australian senator
Kenyan Born Australian Senator Lucy Gichuhi was sworn in on Tuesday as the first black African member of the federal parliament of Australia.
Ms Gichuhi thanked family and friends for their support through her journey saying, “I am honoured and humbled to be sworn in today as the first ever person of Black African descent in the Australian Parliament.”
She added: “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.”
KENYAN CITIZENSHIP
The Kenyan-born lawyer, who migrated to Australia in 1999, was elected in April this year as a Senator in South Australia.
Ms Gichuhi, who was running on Family First ticket, won a special count of the South Australian ballot papers.
Read: Kenyan born woman makes history as she is elected a senator in Australia.
The Labor Party unsuccessfully tried to challenge her eligibility amid questions about her Kenyan citizenship.
However, the Australian High Court declared that Senator Gichuhi, who was born in Kenya, is free to replace Bob Day (the former holder of the seat) as a South Australian senator in the Federal Parliament.
