VOA标准英语2010-New Constitution in Kenya Could Bring Lon

The opening session of parliament in Nairobi, Kenya (file photo)

After nearly two decades of waiting, Kenyans may finally receive a new constitution.  Political leaders are calling for Kenya to support the proposed set of laws, but controversial amendments¹ threaten its passage through referendum in the coming months.

 

Kenya moved one step closer to reform last week when parliament unanimously passed the proposed constitution and sent it to the attorney general for drafting.

Kenyans have been calling for a new constitution since the early 1990's.  The current constitution has been in effect since independence from Britain in 1963 and many see it as outdated².

An attempt was made in 2005 to pass a new constitution, but the proposed draft was rejected in a countrywide referendum that polarized the nation.  The 2005 referendum was seen as a direct cause of the ethnic³ violence that rocked the country after a disputed presidential election in December of 2007.

More than 1,000 people were killed and more than 300,000 driven from their homes as supporters of President Mwai Kibaki and his challenger, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, clashed amidst allegations of vote rigging.

The current push for a new constitution is part of a power-sharing agreement reached between Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga in February of 2008.  The agreement, mediated⁴ by former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, created a unity⁵ government and affirmed the commitment of both sides to constitutional reform.

Many hope that the effort will address longstanding issues of tribalism and corruption⁶ in the east-African nation.

In an interview with VOA last month, Kenyan legislator Gitobu Imanyara said that the new constitution was a significant step towards democracy. "After fighting for more than 20 years, we shall have a brand new constitution for Kenya that marks a significant departure from the one party institutional framework that has been responsible for so much harm in this country," he said.

Major changes

The new constitution proposes major changes to Kenya's political and legal systems.  Among the most significant reforms is the decentralization of the government's power.

The far-reaching authority of the presidency⁷ has been curtailed⁸ in favor of a stronger legislature and a newly established senate will work with parliament to protect minority rights.

The draft also establishes a Kenyan bill of rights that guarantees citizens high standards of health, security, equality and freedom.

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga have expressed support for the new constitution.

But the reform process has not progressed without controversy⁹. The proposed constitution was initially¹⁰ submitted to parliament by an international committee of experts, appointed to draft the constitution.  Over 60 amendments to the draft were proposed, but a deeply divided parliament failed to pass a single one.

With the draft moving towards a referendum, Kenya's churches have emerged as the most significant threat to its passage.

Opposition¹¹

Many religious groups in Kenya are opposed to a provision in the document that allows doctors to terminate a pregnancy¹² if it threatens a mother's life.

They are also opposed to articles that allow traditional Islamic courts to adjudicate disputes over marriage, divorce and inheritance when both parties are Muslim and consent to bring the case before a Muslim judge.

The majority of Kenyans are Christian¹³ and the National Council of Churches of Kenya has threatened to reject the constitution if the clauses are not removed.  Muslim leaders in Kenya say they will review the document before deciding to whether or not to back it.

The international community has been supportive of Kenya throughout the process.  Monday a statement from U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger, urged Kenyans to move forward, saying that the proposed constitution will "ensure greater accountability and adherence¹⁴ to the rule of law."

But some feel the Islamic Courts threaten equality in Kenya.  The director of international operations for the U.S.-based American Center for Law and Justice, Jordan Sekulow, said the international community, fearing another outbreak of violence, was pressuring those with concerns to support the draft.

"Those who have criticized the constitution are being heavily criticized by members of the media in Kenya as well as by those from international organizations like the UN, other representatives like Kofi Annan as well.  The true symbol of a real flourishing democracy, though, is not everyone keeping their mouths shut and going along with whatever the United Nations or international organizations want," he said.

According to the Constitution of Kenya Review Act, which has governed the reform, Kenya's Attorney General, Amos Wako, has 30 days to draft the proposed constitution. He will then submit it to the public for review ahead of the referendum.

A date for the referendum has not yet been set, but the vote is expected to be close.  There are concerns that the defeat of the constitution could lead to another outbreak of violence.

 

1 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

2 outdated   

adj.旧式的，落伍的，过时的；v.使过时

参考例句：

• That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了，许多地址已经改了。
• Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。

3 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

4 mediated   

调停，调解，斡旋( mediate的过去式和过去分词 )； 居间促成； 影响…的发生； 使…可能发生

参考例句：

• He mediated in the quarrel between the two boys. 他调解两个孩子之间的争吵。
• The government mediated between the workers and the employers. 政府在工人与雇主间搞调和。

5 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。

6 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。

7 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。

8 curtailed   

v.截断，缩短( curtail的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Spending on books has been severely curtailed. 购书开支已被大大削减。
• Their public health programme had to be severely curtailed. 他们的公共卫生计划不得不大大收缩。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

10 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

11 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。

12 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

13 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

14 adherence   

n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着

参考例句：

• He was well known for his adherence to the rules.他因遵循这些规定而出名。
• The teacher demanded adherence to the rules.老师要求学生们遵守纪律。