Veteran politician Koigi Wa Wamwere has termed ODM leader Raila Odinga's recent remarks on the fake gold saga as a blow to Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula.
Speaking in Kisii on Friday, Raila came out clean on the issue, defending Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiangi who was implicated into the deal.
Both Matiangi and Raila were implicated through a leaked phone conversation purportedly between Wetangula and a representative of the buyer, a member of the Dubai royal family.
Speaking on Cheche show on Radio Sauti Ya Mwananchi on Saturday evening, Koigi lauded the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) boss for confirming that the scandal is indeed there, putting to rest speculations and allegations.
However, the former Subukia MP said Raila's remarks have thrown Wetangula under the bus, leaving the man who was until recently his political ally at the middle of the Sh400 million scandal and with explanations to make.
"Wakati Raila aliposema yeye ndiye mpiga firimbi nilifurahia sana kwa sababu kuhakikisha kwamba ni kweli kashfa yenyewe iko. Hata hivyo, nina hofu kwamba wakati huu amemtupa Wetangula chini ya basi (I was relieved the moment he said that he was the whistleblower as he has now confirmed that the scandal is indeed in existence. However, I fear that he has thrown Wetangula under the bus this time)," Koigi said.
However, he noted that Raila is not to be fully trusted, and cannot be cleared just yet, having been implicated initially.
Koigi suspected that the isolation of Wetangula could be having a deeper meaning, imagining a situation where the Ford Kenya party leader might have refused to share the proceeds with Raila, resulting in the retaliation.
"Hata hivyo, sijui labda Wetangula alikataa kutoa kipande akala chote pekee yake (maybe Wetangula refused to share the proceedsnand kept it all for himself)," he added.