Former Kenya Power Managing Director Ken Tarus was all smiles on Wednesday after a court in Nairobi allowed the Sh159 million fraud case facing him to be withdrawn.

Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Juma says the court decided to withdraw the corruption charges against Tarus under section 87(a) of the civil procedure code.

But Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji says charges against eight other Kenya Power officers will proceed over dubious award of Sh159 million tenders to various firms.

Tarus had been charged together with former Finance Manager Harun Karisa, Networks General Manager Daniel Tare, and Supply Chain General Manager Daniel Muga, as well as tender committee members James Muriuki, Benard Muturi, John Njehia, Evelyne Amondi and Noah Omondi.

Haji said after revising the evidence adduces in the case, his office had established that there was no offence linked to Tarus, a position the other accused persons did no object to.

Tarus and his eight co-accused in the fraud case were charged with colluding to commit an economic crime by failing to observe tendering rules and procedures in awarding contracts.

According to their charge sheet, their actions had resulted in the duplicitous payment of Sh159 million to firms that were irregularly pre-qualified for transport and labour services.