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(单词翻译)
By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi
26 January 2006
The anti-corruption1 group, Transparency International, has blasted the World Bank for loaning Kenya $25 million to fight corruption, following allegations implicating2 four senior ministers, including the vice3 president, in financial scandals.
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The World Bank credit is to be used to strengthen checks and balances in budgeting procedures, financial management, and auditing4 in several key ministries5 of the Kenyan government.
The lead economist6 at the World Bank's Kenya office, Fred Kilby, explains.
"The thinking behind the credit is that there are many Kenyans in government, in the civil service, who would like to see that aspect of Kenya's anti-corruption plan strengthened," he said. "We feel there is a strong commitment to reducing, [and] fighting corruption through the types of arrangements we are supporting under the credit."
But the executive director of Transparency International's Kenyan office, Mwalimu Mati, says the World Bank's timing7 is "insensitive and ironic," given the corruption allegations that have recently surfaced.
Kenyan media this week have been reporting alleged8 corruption cases sent earlier to President Mwai Kibaki from John Githongo, who was permanent secretary in charge of governance and ethics9 for about two years. Githongo resigned last year and now lives in London.
Among the cases is the so-called Anglo Leasing affair, which involved the government awarding lucrative10 contracts to fictitious11 companies to print high-tech12 passports and build police forensic13 laboratories.
Kiraitu Murungi
(file photo)
The scheme, which was prevented, could have cost the Kenyan economy around $200 million. Vice President Moody14 Awori, Finance Minister David Mwiraria, Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi, and former Transport Minister Chris Murungaru are among those alleged to be involved in the deal.
The World Bank's Kilby says that the scandal has eroded15 Kenyans' confidence in their government. But he says that overall the government has made a significant effort to build up anti-corruption institutions and systems.
Transparency International's Mati says that the World Bank is sending out the wrong signals by giving the Kenyan government a loan at this time.
Davinder Lamba of Mazingira Institute, left, and Harun Ndubi of Kituo Cha Sheria protest the resignation of President Mwai Kibaki's top anti-corruption adviser16 John Githongo
"If what we are reading in Githongo's dossier is true, then yes, it [the loan] would be an endorsement17 of a government that is under serious suspicion of having tolerated or condoned18 grand corruption within its ranks," he said. "And worse, still, it does not take into account Githongo's story. Githongo is the first statehouse insider who has ever actually defected towards the public and told the public something they have never heard before, that there is corruption in the Kibaki government."
Many Kenyans say they are disillusioned19 with the current government, which was elected at the end of 2002 on a strong anti-corruption platform.
1 corruption | |
n.腐败,堕落,贪污 | |
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2 implicating | |
vt.牵涉,涉及(implicate的现在分词形式) | |
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3 vice | |
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的 | |
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4 auditing | |
n.审计,查账,决算 | |
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5 ministries | |
(政府的)部( ministry的名词复数 ); 神职; 牧师职位; 神职任期 | |
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6 economist | |
n.经济学家,经济专家,节俭的人 | |
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7 timing | |
n.时间安排,时间选择 | |
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8 alleged | |
a.被指控的,嫌疑的 | |
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9 ethics | |
n.伦理学;伦理观,道德标准 | |
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10 lucrative | |
adj.赚钱的,可获利的 | |
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11 fictitious | |
adj.虚构的,假设的;空头的 | |
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12 high-tech | |
adj.高科技的 | |
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13 forensic | |
adj.法庭的,雄辩的 | |
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14 moody | |
adj.心情不稳的,易怒的,喜怒无常的 | |
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15 eroded | |
adj. 被侵蚀的,有蚀痕的 动词erode的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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16 adviser | |
n.劝告者,顾问 | |
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17 endorsement | |
n.背书;赞成,认可,担保;签(注),批注 | |
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18 condoned | |
v.容忍,宽恕,原谅( condone的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19 disillusioned | |
a.不再抱幻想的,大失所望的,幻想破灭的 | |
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