Deputy President William Ruto has welcomed city lawyer Nelson Havi to the ruling Jubilee Party.
This is after the vocal lawyer took to social media to express his interest in joining the President Uhuru Kenyatta-led party.
In a tweet on Friday, Havi said he was considering joining Jubilee after it opened its doors to any Kenyan willing to vie for the presidency in 2022 through its ticket.
"Jubilee has confirmed that it has no automatic presidential candidate for 2022. I have therefore, decided to put my name there. Ama namna gani ma frens? (Or what do you say friends?)" he tweeted.
In a quick rejoinder, Ruto, who is the Jubilee deputy party leader, welcomed the lawyer to the party and encouraged him to apply for membership before he seeks the ticket for State House.
"You are very welcome Havi. Start with membership its online," he posted.
Speaking in Kakamega on Thursday, the DP said Jubilee will not issue direct tickets in 2022 and all aspirants across all seats will be subjected to free and fair nominations exercise.
"We embrace democracy and respect the will of the people. We will all compete for different positions in the nominations. There will be no direct ticket in Jubilee Party in all the seats,” he said during the requiem mass of wife of former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Adelaide Shikanga.
Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju on Tuesday night expressed similar sentiments saying Jubilee has no preferred candidate in the next polls.
“I have no apology to make whatsoever and I can repeat here that there is no automatic candidate for the Jubilee Party for 2022,” he said during an interview on Citizen TV.
"Anybody who says they want to vie in 2022 are welcomed," the former Rarieda MP added.