The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission on Wednesday came under fire after publishing an erroneous tweet.
The polls agency, while announcing the launch of signatures backing the proposed amendments to the Constitution, used the phrase ‘burning bridges’.
“Happening now: The launch of the Burning Bridges Initiative Supporters Verification Exercise at the Bomas of Kenya,” the tweet read.
The tweet, which was part of a thread, was hurriedly deleted, but not without the attention of Twitter users who took screenshots of the same.
The error elicited reactions from among users, some expressing their ire at the commission and accusing it of showing signs of not backing the BBI process.
ODM political affairs secretary Opiyo Wandayi said:
The @IEBCKenya's political bias and shameful incompetence, like pregnancy, cannot be hidden any more. It keeps showing. Time to exhaustively reform this crime cesspool. pic.twitter.com/YJ6kkTKGmZ
— Hon. Opiyo Wandayi, CBS (@OpiyoWandayi) December 30, 2020
Here are other reactions:
IEBC just referred to the Building Bridges Initiative as a BURNING Bridges Initiative. The admin has clearly taken a side. pic.twitter.com/ZT1At8oFCw
— Kiigen K. Koech (@KiigenKoech) December 30, 2020
IEBC calls BBI the Burning Bridges Initiative. Looks like an intentional mistake 🤣 pic.twitter.com/x6jVp3ZP1B
— Kenya West© (@KinyanBoy) December 30, 2020
Some tweeps called for the disbandment of the electoral commission, saying the tweet could be surmised as an indirect attack targeting President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
The IEBC twitter admin MUST be fired IMMEDIATELY. This is a mistake that should not be followed by a letter of warning. An independent Commission openly showing bias in an impending referendum can't be tolerated. BBI is not Burning Bridges initiative. The admin must be fired.
— Lord Abraham Mutai (@ItsMutai) December 30, 2020
IEBC MUST respect Kenyans bana, this a full sign of Suspicion to kill BBI, but we will GUARD the BBI votes, No one will be Burning Bridges Initiative here. pic.twitter.com/kESCkRFdKL
— DUKE OF SIAYA (@okoko_Jonathan4) December 30, 2020
The two are behind the Building Bridges Initiative, which followed their March 8, 2018 handshake that ended the tension of the 2017 polls.
During the launch of the verification of BBI signatures, the IEBC said 400 clerks hired for the process have taken their oath of secrecy and would begin the exercise immediately
"The 400 clerks who were recruited for the exercise have taken their oath of secrecy and will begin their training shortly," IEBC said via Twitter.
IEBC called for applications for the posts of signature verification clerks on December 19.
