VOA慢速英语:Ethic Violence in Kenya Raises Concerns Among Investors

A recent study shows that investors are concerned about conditions in Kenya. The nation is preparing for general elections in March twenty thirteen. But, the Kenyan business community is showing less confidence in the health of the country’s economy.
最近报道显示投资者担心肯尼亚的局势。该国准备在2013年3月举行大选，但肯尼亚的商界表现出对该国经济健康状况缺乏信心。

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance and the Synovate research group reported the findings. Synovate researchers talked to one hundred forty-five business leaders between July and August. A measure of the leaders’ confidence, or trust, was down fifty-three percent. That compares to between sixty and seventy percent a year ago.
肯尼亚私营部门联盟和思纬特研究集团发表了这份报告。7-8月份，思纬特的研究者与145名商界领袖进行了对话。这些领导人的自信或信心下降了53%，而一年前这个数字在60%到70%之间。

Patrick Obath is chairman of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, or KEPSA. It represents more than two hundred Kenya-based companies. Patrick Obath says investors’ trust has fallen because of recent ethnic violence and political problems.
Patrick Obath是肯尼亚私营部门联盟(KEPSA)主席，该组织代表总部在肯尼亚的200多家公司。Patrick说投资者的信心之所以下降，是因为最近的种族暴力和政治问题。

PATRICK OBATH: “We normally do a survey every six months on the business community to look at the various indicators that show the way the economy is going and the kind of fears they have, so this is a regular thing that we do.  But this particular one showed indications that there is obviously some pessimism about the economy as a result of the activities that normally lead up to the election.”
 
Patrick Obath：“我们通常每6个月对商业界做一次调查，了解各种指标，看经济的运行情况和令人担心的因素，所以这是我们常规的工作。但这次很特别，显示人们对经济很悲观，原因就是与选举有关的活动。”

He also says he knows of some investors are withdrawing their investments. He says two behaviors could lead to economic problems before the elections.
他说了解到一些投资者已经在撤回投资，他说选举之间，有两种行为会导致经济问题。

PATRICK OBATH: “Two things happen, one is that if there iss any investment to be done it is delayed until after the election, once things are clearer. The second thing that we have experienced is that also the spending of people changes because people are also a bit more conscious and they tend to keep money aside just in case things don’t go the way that they expect. So that downturn is what we normally see every year before election.”
Patrick Obath：“有两种事情，一个是，如果有原定要进行的投资被推迟了，直到选举后事态清晰后再投资。第二个就是人们的开支有了变化，因为人们很警觉，他们更多地储蓄以防不测。所以选举之前的那年总是会出现低迷。”

Kenya experienced ethnic violence after disputed presidential elections in December two thousand seven. At least one thousand three hundred Kenyans were killed. More than three hundred thousand others fled their homes to escape the unrest.
2007年12月肯尼亚有争议的总统选举之前就有种族暴力发生，至少1300名肯尼亚人被杀，30万人逃离家园避难。

Since then, Kenyans have experienced four years of relative security. A new constitution is in place. It is meant to prevent the kinds of anger and political struggles that caused the violence five years ago.
自此，肯尼亚经历了4年相对安定的时期，新宪法也就位，意在阻止可能引起5年前的那种愤怒和政治争斗。

But Kenya is not completely calm. Many people have died because of ethnic violence between competing communities in the Tana Delta area. Patrick Obath says the violence has not helped investors' confidence. He says it also harms his country’s image around the world.
但肯尼亚尚未完全平静，许多人因Tana Delta地区敌对社区的种族冲突而死去，Patrick Obath说暴力不会增长投资者的信心，他说这会损害肯尼亚在全世界的形象。