Lucy Gichuhi was driving to work on Wednesday when someone called to congratulate her.
"What about?" she asked the caller.
That was how Ms Gichuhi found out she might be sworn in as an Australian senator next month.
The full bench of Australia's highest court has ordered a recount of South Australian senate votes after finding Family First senator Bob Day was .
"Had to stop by the side of the road and soak it in," she told SBS News.
The High Court has ordered that a single judge will decide how the SA recount is conducted, but it is likely the Family First votes will flow to Ms Gichuhi, who was listed second on the party's ticket.
"I would love to serve South Australians as a senator," she said, "and bring a bit of a difference to the senate."
Ms Gichuhi is a Kenyan-born lawyer who arrived in Australia in 1999.
She said she wants to be an example to the growing migrant communities in South Australia that "you can be truly Australian, and feel Australian, and be Australian, and act like an Australian."
"I’m Australian, for the last 20 years. So that is what I’m talking about. I need to ... feel and act like an Australian because I’m here for the long haul," she said.
"And so are so many people who have come here, from whichever part of the world. It doesn’t have to be Africa."
The Turnbull Government found a reliable crossbench ally in Bob Day, who generally voted in favour of Coalition legislation.
Ms Gichuhi said she "learnt a lot" from Senator Day, but would not be drawn on whether she would be likely to support government bills.
"That’s not something I can say a ‘yes’ to or a ‘no’ to," she said.
"I would just be independent-minded and review situations and legislation as they come."
The Attorney-General has confirmed the new South Australian senator will be sworn in when parliament resumes for the Budget on May 9.
