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Mwai Kibaki was Sworn-in this Week

时间:2005-05-31 16:00:00

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Broadcast: Jan 4, 2003
By Cynthia Kirk. This is Steve Ember

Mwai Kibaki was sworn-in this week as president of Kenya. He won sixty-three percent of the vote in the Kenyan presidential election last Friday. Mister Kibaki was the candidate of an alliance of opposition1 groups called the National Rainbow Coalition2. His election is widely considered an important victory for democracy in Kenya.

Mister Kibaki replaces Daniel Arap Moi, who was Kenyan president for twenty-four years. Mister Moi led the Kenya African National Union, known as KANU. His party had been in power since Kenya gained independence from Britain in nineteen-sixty-three. It was the only party permitted in Kenya until nineteen-ninety-one. Constitutional1 changes put other parties on the ballot3 and limited Presidents to two terms in office.

On Monday, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Nairobi to watch Mister Kibaki get sworn-in. Some people shouted at Mister Moi during the ceremony.

Mister Moi listened quietly as Mister Kibaki noted4 the failings of his government. The new President said there has been what he called "a wide disconnect" between the people and the government. He said he believes that governments exist to serve the people, not the people to serve the government.

Mister Kibaki's main opponent in the election was Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta. President Moi supported Uhuru Kenyatta as the KANU candidate in the election last week. Mister Kenyatta won only thirty-percent of the vote.

Kenya's new leader is a former economist5. He served ten years as vice6 president under Mister Moi. Then, he spent more than ten years in the political opposition. Mister Kibaki lost as a candidate for President in nineteen-ninety-two and nineteen-ninety-seven. KANU was accused of cheating in both elections to stay in power.

Kenya has the largest economy in East Africa. But wasteful7 use of public money and dishonesty in government have weakened the economy in recent years. Many of the country's thirty-million people survive on one dollar a day. The economic situation has hurt foreign investment. Many people blame Daniel Arap Moi for the problems.

President Moi was praised for keeping Kenya peaceful when conflicts2 started in other parts of Africa. However, he was criticized for his oppressive rule. Mister Moi demanded loyalty8 from citizens and jailed those who dissented9. His picture was on streets, airports, schools and Kenyan money.

Many Kenyans expect a lot from Mister Kibaki and his government. He has said he wants to end dishonesty in government and help the poor. Some observers fear that the new government will not be able to force real change. They say many of those leading the National Rainbow Coalition were KANU members a short time ago. Others say Mister Kibaki's attempts at reform may cause tensions.

This VOA Special English program, IN THE NEWS, was written by Cynthia Kirk. This is Steve Ember.
   
1. constitutional [7kCnstI5tju:FEnEl] adj. 构成的, 宪法的, 拥护宪法的
2. conflict [5kCnflIkt ] n.斗争, 冲突


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1 opposition eIUxU     
n.反对,敌对
参考例句:
  • The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
  • The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
2 coalition pWlyi     
n.结合体,同盟,结合,联合
参考例句:
  • The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
  • Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。
3 ballot jujzB     
n.(不记名)投票,投票总数,投票权;vi.投票
参考例句:
  • The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
  • The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。
4 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
5 economist AuhzVs     
n.经济学家,经济专家,节俭的人
参考例句:
  • He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
  • He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家,自以为什么都懂。
6 vice NU0zQ     
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的
参考例句:
  • He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
  • They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。
7 wasteful ogdwu     
adj.(造成)浪费的,挥霍的
参考例句:
  • It is a shame to be so wasteful.这样浪费太可惜了。
  • Duties have been reassigned to avoid wasteful duplication of work.为避免重复劳动浪费资源,任务已经重新分派。
8 loyalty gA9xu     
n.忠诚,忠心
参考例句:
  • She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
  • His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。
9 dissented 7416a77e8e62fda3ea955b704ee2611a     
不同意,持异议( dissent的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • We dissented from the decision. 对那项决定我们表示了不同意见。
  • He dissented and questioned the justice of the award. 他提出质问,说裁判不公允。

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