2007年VOA标准英语-Kenya Government Plans Crackdown on Crime

By Alisha Ryu
Nairobi
08 February 2007

The Kenyan government has promised to crack down on the flow of illegal arms into urban areas and the people using them.  The government says a flood of weapons into Kenya from neighboring Somalia is partly responsible for the recent surge of violent crime, particularly in the capital Nairobi.  From Nairobi, VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu has this report.

In a speech broadcast live on national television and radio, Kenya's official government spokesman, Alfred Mutua, appealed for public help in apprehending¹ nearly 24 men suspected of carrying out fatal carjackings and robberies in recent weeks.

"The police today will issue a list of at least 20 wanted very dangerous armed criminals who are roaming the streets and living in your neighborhoods," he said.  "If you know where they are, tell us so that we can round them up."

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has expressed concern about the rise in violent crime, especially in and around the capital, where diplomats² and foreigners have been targeted along with many Kenyans.

The police estimate at least 50 civilians³ and security officials have been killed in the past two months in incidents related to violent crime.

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A Somali boy sits near different heavy caliber guns returned by different warlords in Mogadishu

Most attackers have been armed with unlicensed AK-47 assault rifles, which the Kenyan government says are being smuggled⁵ in from war-ravaged Somalia and sold on the streets of Nairobi and elsewhere in the country. 

Kenya has strict laws against possession of unlicensed weapons, and people who use them to commit crimes could face the death penalty.

But Government Spokesman Mutua says the laws are often ignored because of lax enforcement.

"We would like to correct this," he added.  "So, if you are arrested with an illegal weapon - if it is the father and his son is using the weapon and it is in your house, all of you will be locked up and charged with capital punishment, so as to make sure this is taken with the seriousness it deserves."

To discourage criminal activities, Mutua says Kenyan security forces will also arrest and prosecute⁶ people who knowingly buy stolen goods.

Nairobi has long been known for its high-crime rate, earning it the unwanted nickname of "Nai-robbery" among residents.

But even long-time residents have been unnerved by the vicious and brazen⁷ nature of recent attacks, some of which have made headlines around the world. 

Last August, carjackers in Nairobi stabbed Russia's ambassador to Kenya before robbing him.  A month later, an American military attaché was wounded by armed carjackers, who ambushed⁸ his vehicle near the U.S. embassy.

In January, the wife and mother-in-law of a political officer at the U.S. embassy was shot and killed by carjackers on the outskirts⁹ of the capital.  A week later, the regional director for the non-governmental organization CARE was gunned down during another attempted carjacking in Nairobi.

The insecurity prompted the United States to issue a warning Tuesday advising Americans not to travel to Kenya and warned Americans in the country to exercise caution.

1 apprehending   

逮捕，拘押( apprehend的现在分词 )； 理解

参考例句：

• China has not been totally unsuccessful apprehending corruption suspects. 在逮捕腐化分子方面，中国并非毫无进展。
• Apprehending violence is not an easy task. 惧怕暴力不是一件容易的事。

2 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

4 caliber   

n.能力；水准

参考例句：

• They ought to win with players of such high caliber.他们选手的能力这样高,应该获胜。
• We are always trying to improve the caliber of our schools.我们一直在想方设法提高我们学校的水平。

5 smuggled   

水货

参考例句：

• The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods. 海关官员没收了走私品。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Those smuggled goods have been detained by the port office. 那些走私货物被港务局扣押了。 来自互联网

6 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

7 brazen   

adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的

参考例句：

• The brazen woman laughed loudly at the judge who sentenced her.那无耻的女子冲着给她判刑的法官高声大笑。
• Some people prefer to brazen a thing out rather than admit defeat.有的人不愿承认失败，而是宁肯厚着脸皮干下去。

8 ambushed   

v.埋伏( ambush的过去式和过去分词 )；埋伏着

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The military vehicles were ambushed. 军车遭到伏击。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。