NAIROBI, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has told Kenyans to expect a new constitution in the new year, saying it will guarantee equal opportunities, freedoms and justice for all.

    In his New Year message to the nation received here Friday, Odinga urged political players in the country to adopt a spirit of give and take in delivering the new constitution.

    He noted that previous attempts to re-write the document had been frustrated by intransigence on the part of some politicians.

    "Kenyans have yearned for a new constitution for the last forty-five years, we must therefore give them this instrument that will completely change the way of managing the country's affairs," he said in the message.

    Odinga hit out at the disgraced electoral commission of Kenya (ECK), saying those responsible for the mess in the commission should not preside over the cleaning of the commission.

    He said it is imperative to staff the ECK with new faces, people who will inject a sense of responsibility in the commission to redeem its image both locally and internationally and bring credibility to the electoral process in Kenya.

    The prime minister commended Kenyans for their resilience that enabled the country to quickly overcome the effects of the post election violence witnessed early last year.