Jubilation in Nyeri as native joins Australia Senate

The family of Lucy Muringo Gichuhi in Mathira, Nyeri Couty, burst into celebration after their daughter was on Tuesday sworn in as the first Senator of African descent in Australia.

With only 152 primary votes polled in last year’s election, the Kenyan-born lawyer’s chances of occupying a seat in the Senate looked distant.

That was until the High Court of Australia found Family First Senator Bob Day in breach of the constitution and therefore ineligible to occupy office. This prompted a special recount of ballot papers to determine his replacement.

According to Australian media, Ms Gichuhi, who was Family First’s number two senate candidate, got enough flow through from votes that had gone to Mr Day to get her into office.

Gichuhi’s future in the Senate had also earlier hang in the balance after a legal challenge was mounted over her eligibility to hold the position owing to her nationality.

There were questions on whether she still held Kenyan citizenship at the time she was seeking office, which would have disqualified her.

When she therefore finally took the oath of office, her family burst into song and dance to celebrate their daughter’s achievement.

Her sister, Gichungo Weru, said villagers were streaming into their home in Hiriga with congratulatory messages after it was confirmed that she would now serve as a senator.

Gichuhi assumed office at 12.30pm (5.30 am Kenyan time). “We woke up to the news because we could not watch it live due to the seven-hour time difference,” her sister said.

Grand fete

The family is now preparing for a grand ceremony to celebrate their daughter’s achievement, with plans afoot for family members to fly to Australia.

“After her swearing-in things are now clear. No specific date has been set but we are making plans to celebrate the achievement,” Weru said.

She said the family was making arrangements to have their father, Justus Munyiri, travel to Australia to witness Gichuhi make her maiden speech as senator, next month.

“No member of the family left the country to witness her inauguration but we have a lot of close relatives and one of our sisters in Australia. We were well represented,” she said.

According to Australian media reports, about 100 friends and supporters jammed the public gallery to watch Gichuhi being sworn in as senator for South Australia.

Weru said the family received news that Gichuhi had finally taken up her seat in the early hours of the morning.

“She sent us a video and we replied with our congratulatory messages. She is a devout Christian and recognises that leadership comes with its challenges but we know that she will do everything possible to empower the people,” she said.

In a post on Facebook, Gichuhi said she was “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,” the new senator posted.

Gichuhi, 54, moved to Australia with her husband and three children in 1999 and became an Australian citizen in 2001.