2007年VOA标准英语-Kenyan President Launches Re-Election Bid

By Nick Wadhams
Nairobi
17 September 2007

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has launched his bid for a second five-year term, with the creation of a new political alliance and the support of several of the country's most powerful political leaders. Nick Wadhams has the story from VOA's Nairobi bureau.

Mwai Kibaki celebrates at Kenyatta International Conference center during inter-parties cooperation, 16 Sep 2007

In a nationally televised speech, President Kibaki announced he will run under the new Party of National Unity¹. He used the address to list what he sees as the achievements from his first five-year term, which he said included free primary school education and better health care and roads.

Mr. Kibaki's new alliance will include several of the country's most prominent political groups. He will also look to capitalize on the backing he has recently received from former President Daniel Arap Moi and Uhuru Kenyatta, who said last week he would drop his own bid for president and support Kibaki.

Political analyst² Mutahi Ngunyi says Mr. Kibaki is looking strong, heading into the December vote and that Kenyatta - the son of Kenya's first post-colonial leader, Jomo Kenyatta - has worked out an alliance in anticipation³ of the next presidential election, in 2012.

"Uhuru is doing this for the purposes of inheriting both the Moi and the Kibaki constituencies in 2012. That is his intention," Ngunyi said. "He is not doing it because he necessarily likes the two gentlemen or because he is cajoled into supporting them. You see, right now, Kibaki does not have a 'king in waiting.' And, because there is no king in waiting, Uhuru Kenyatta has basically spied that opportunity and he is positioning himself for that particular purpose."

Questions remain about Mr. Kibaki's chances. His government recently came under criticism for its failure to stamp out corruption⁴, despite Mr. Kibaki's repeated promises to do so. And, when he ran in 2002, he promised not to seek a second term.

Mr. Kibaki is 75 years old and looking increasingly fragile. Ngunyi says that makes Kenyatta's move to back the president look even smarter.

"This is part of a generational succession - that Uhuru has spied an opportunity to effect the long-awaited generational succession. And, it might look controversial, unpopular right now, but, in the long run, I think it's one of those things that might make sense, especially for the generation in its 40's," he said.

Mr. Kibaki also faces strong challenges from two popular Kenyan politicians, Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka. However, those two had a falling out and their decisions to run may split the opposition⁵ vote.

1 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

2 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。

3 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

4 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。

5 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。