VOA标准英语2008年-Kenyans Welcome Obama's Democratic Party Nomina

By Derek Kilner
Nairobi
04 June 2008

Kenyans, who have long followed the career of Barack Obama, welcomed the news of the senator clinching¹ the Democratic nomination² for president Tuesday night. Derek Kilner has more from Nairobi.
　

Barack Obama speaks in Kogelo village in Kenya (file photo)

Kenyans have been closely following the presidential campaign of Barack Obama, whose father was from western Kenya. His relatives in the western village of Kogelo have become minor³ celebrities⁴ as the senator's political star has risen.

On Wednesday, Obama's uncle, Said Obama, commented on his nephew's historic step toward his once-improbable goal of becoming the nation's first black president.

"We are very happy about what has just happened because it's something which has dragged on for a long time and we were looking forward to this and it has finally come," he said. "So we are very happy, he has made us happy and we are only praying that he goes forward and clinches⁵ the presidency⁶ as well."

Obama was in Kisumu, Kenya's third city on the shores of Lake Victoria, not far from Kogelo.

"That's the discussion everywhere," he added. "Even if you listen to our local FM radio stations that's the main news. All of Kisumu is in a celebrating mood actually."
　

Luo council of elders, listening to Senator Obama (file photo)

As the violence following December's disputed elections exposed Kenya's tribal⁷ divisions, some analysts⁸ attempted to impose similar divisions on support for Mr. Obama. Obama's family belongs to the Luo tribe of presidential challenger Raila Odinga, now the prime minister, and who jokes that there could be a Luo president in the United States before there is one in Kenya.

But on the streets of the capital Nairobi, Kenyans from Central Province, home to the Kikuyu tribe of President Mwai Kibaki, disputed that contention⁹.

"No, In fact everybody else I've come across, everybody in Kenya should be enthusiastic about it. Everybody is glad, everybody feels good," said accountant David Kal.

Jonathan, also from Central Province, works for a telecommunications firm.
　

Grandmother of Barrack Obama, Sarah Obama Onyango, holds a Senate election placard promoting Obama at her home in western Kenya, 04 Feb 2008

"We are very excited about it. He is a very intelligent person. He's been able to overcome a lot of difficulties. He's more of a unity¹⁰ factor," he explained. "He's not divisive. He's a nice guy. In fact, I like him so much I'm even selling his T-shirts."

Despite the excitement, ordinary Kenyans asked about the nomination said there are limited expectations about what Obama will be able to do for Kenya if he wins the presidency. One woman named Lynn recently returned from the United States where she is studying at the University of Texas.

"I don't think it's going to do much for Kenya but there's a lot of excitement about just our son is maybe going to be the president," she said.

"At the moment it is a big boost," added Martin Oweru, a recent university graduate in the capital. "But for Kenya, not exactly, because he has to concentrate on building the economy of U.S. first before coming back to Kenya."

"There's nothing unusual because it's not Barack Obama the individual who is going to rule the U.S. It's the Democratic Party and the policies and values of America which are going to prevail at the end of the day," said media consultant¹¹ Charles Otieno.

Political scientist Peter Wanyande, says his colleagues at the University of Nairobi have also welcomed Obama's nomination, but are waiting to see how the general election turns out.

"The real test will be in the elections and they are hoping that the United States will be able to go beyond considerations of race, color things like those and actually demonstrate to the world that they are truly committed to issue-based politics," he said.

Wanyande says many Kenyans have been disappointed that presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton skipped the country on their visits to the continent. Many Kenyans are hoping that with Obama in the White House, Kenya would be on the president's itinerary¹².

1 clinching   

v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的现在分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议）

参考例句：

• Joe gets clinching evidence of the brains role when he dreams. 乔做梦时得到了大脑发生作用的决定性依据。 来自辞典例句
• Clinching, wrestling, pushing, or seizing, without attempting a throw or other technique. 抱，扭摔，推或抓而没有摔或其它的技术。 来自互联网

2 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

3 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

4 celebrities   

n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉

参考例句：

• He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
• a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目

5 clinches   

n.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的名词复数 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议）v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的第三人称单数 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议）

参考例句：

• Pass argy-bargy one time, both sides clinches a deal with 6000 yuan. 经过一番讨价还价，双方以6000元成交。 来自互联网
• That clinches the argument. 那件事澄清了这项议论。 来自互联网

6 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

7 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

8 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

9 contention   

n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张

参考例句：

• The pay increase is the key point of contention. 加薪是争论的焦点。
• The real bone of contention,as you know,is money.你知道，争论的真正焦点是钱的问题。

10 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。

11 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

12 itinerary   

n.行程表，旅行路线；旅行计划

参考例句：

• The two sides have agreed on the itinerary of the visit.双方商定了访问日程。
• The next place on our itinerary was Silistra.我们行程的下一站是锡利斯特拉。