VOA标准英语2009年-Kenya Religious Leaders Criticize Reform Progre

Religious leaders in Kenya have sharply criticized the country's coalition¹ government for failing to tame corruption² and to undertake reforms outlined in a power-sharing agreement signed last year to end months of post-election violence. The comments follow the release of an independent poll, which shows that the majority of Kenyans believe the government has done little in the past year to improve their lives.
　
Kenyan Archibishop Benjamin Nzimbi

The Inter-Religious Forum³ - a group representing Christians⁴, Muslims and Hindus in Kenya - had requested the government declare Thursday a public holiday so that all Kenyans could pray for the nation.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga denied the request, but they agreed to meet with religious leaders to listen to their concerns.

The country's Anglican Archbishop, Benjamin Nzimbi, says he told Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga that they are failing to lead a clean, honest government, which has always been one of the top priorities for the Kenyan people.

In recent weeks, high-level politicians have been accused of various wrong-doings, including one scandal involving the diversion of corn from the state grain stores for financial gain. The corn was part of a consignment⁵ meant to feed an estimated 10 million Kenyans facing a severe food shortage.

"The corruption we have in this nation is leading us from bad to worse," Nzimbi said. " We always say there must be people who will still remain with their integrity and be true to the standards and policies. These are the people I really pray for, so that they may not get tired, but keep on working hard to bring this country to where it ought to be."

The criticism follows a report released earlier this week that said the majority of Kenyans believe their lives have become worse in the past year and have little hope the government will implement⁶ needed changes.

The report was prepared by the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation⁷ Monitoring Project, an organization formed to observe the implementation⁸ and progress of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act that laid the foundation for a power-sharing government in Kenya.

The signing of the accord a year ago ended a wave of deadly, post-presidential election violence in several parts of the country and raised hopes that broad reforms, including those that would address the underlying⁹ factors responsible for the violence, would be quickly implemented¹⁰.

But the Monitoring Project's progress report describes a coalition government that has failed to lead the national healing and reconciliation process. Instead, the report says internal power struggles have left the government lacking cohesion¹¹. The authors say this, in turn, has led to lack of consensus¹² in decision-making, keeping communities as divided as ever.

In an interview with VOA, Kenya's Assistant Information Minister George Khaniri defended the government's performance.

"We have done the best we could. Circumstances are difficult, as you know. There is the question of mistrust. There is the question of working with strangers. But under all those circumstances, we have tried and we have done well," Khaniri said.

The Monitoring Project says the public's perception of the government is that it is failing, and unless it can push through comprehensive reforms, the country faces more violence and an uncertain future.

1 coalition   

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。

2 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。

3 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

4 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

5 consignment   

n.寄售；发货；委托；交运货物

参考例句：

• This last consignment of hosiery is quite up to standard.这批新到的针织品完全符合规格。
• We have to ask you to dispatch the consignment immediately.我们得要求你立即发送该批货物。

6 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

7 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

8 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

9 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

10 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

11 cohesion   

n.团结，凝结力

参考例句：

• I had to bring some cohesion into the company.我得使整个公司恢复凝聚力。
• The power of culture is deeply rooted in the vitality,creativity and cohesion of a nation. 文化的力量，深深熔铸在民族的生命力、创造力和凝聚力之中。

12 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？