2007年VOA标准英语-Kenya's Opposition Chooses Presidential Candida

By Malcolm Webb
Nairobi
31 August 2007

The ODM-Kenya opposition¹ party Friday chose Kalonzo Musyoka as their presidential candidate to run in the forthcoming general election in Kenya. His former ally, Raila Odinga, is expected to be running against him, after their party split earlier this month. Malcolm Webb reports from Nairobi.

Kalonzo Musyoka

ODM-Kenya elected Kalonzo Musyoka as their candidate to run in the election, at a party meeting in Nairobi this afternoon. Musyoka split from the ODM party and set up ODM Kenya three weeks ago, following what many believe was a bitter struggle over party control between Musyoka and presidential hopeful Raila Odinga.

The ODM party are meeting in Nairobi tomorrow to select their candidate. Odinga is widely expected to be chosen to run in the election at the end of this year.

Nairobi-based Political writer Ojwang Agina says Musyoka does not pose a serious threat to the other presidential candidates, but by running he will disadvantage incumbent² President Mwai Kibaki, who is expected to try and gain a second term in office. Agina says Musyoka may take crucial votes from Kibaki, to Odinga's advantage.

"He will be trying to cut into the same Central Province, around mount Kenya region, the vote that Kibaki is also banking³ heavily on, and to that extent he may reduce Kibaki's total vote," said Agina. "In so far as Raila Odinga is concerned, if there are any parts of the ODM Kenya which will vote for Kilonzo then that might diminish Raila's votes but so far there's no indication that will happen."

 

However many people see the split between ODM and ODM-Kenya as the collapse⁴ of a once-powerful movement, and that by running separately they have lost their chance of victory.

Raila Odinga (May 2007)

Lawyer and political analyst⁵ Barrack Muluka thinks that Musyoka could prove to be stronger than expected in the coming weeks. He says Odinga will be disadvantaged running against his former ally, as a result of Musyoka taking away the support of the voters from his home community.

 

"I think it clearly locks the Kamba vote from Kibaki, then his apparent most formidable competitor who is Raila Odinga can also not get them. It may not be so good for Raila because he had hoped that he would bag those votes," said Muluka.

 

Earlier this week former president Daniel Arap Moi said he would back Kibaki's re-election, and that Kibaki deserved a second term. Moi still wields⁶ significant political influence in Kenya, but his reputation has been tarnished⁷ by allegations of corruption⁸ scandals. In the eyes of many Kenyans his endorsement⁹ may not be to Kibaki's credit .

1 opposition   

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 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

3 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

4 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

5 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

6 wields   

手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的第三人称单数 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响）

参考例句：

• She wields enormous power within the party. 她操纵着党内大权。
• He remains chairman, but wields little power at the company. 他还是主席，但在公司没有什么实权了。

7 tarnished   

（通常指金属）（使）失去光泽，（使）变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 )； 玷污，败坏

参考例句：

• The mirrors had tarnished with age. 这些镜子因年深日久而照影不清楚。
• His bad behaviour has tarnished the good name of the school. 他行为不轨，败坏了学校的声誉。

8 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

9 endorsement   

n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注

参考例句：

• We are happy to give the product our full endorsement.我们很高兴给予该产品完全的认可。
• His presidential campaign won endorsement from several celebrities.他参加总统竞选得到一些社会名流的支持。