Nairobi, Jan. 5 -- A procurement tribunal has nullified a Sh8.7 billion fuel supply deal won by French oil marketer Rubis Energy following a 17-minute system hitch by Kenya Power that locked out one of the bidders from the lucrative tender.

The contract would have seen Rubis Energy Kenya Plc supply at least 53 million litres of diesel to 30 off-grid power stations in northern Kenya for two years.

The Public Procurement Administrative Review Board (PPARB), which adjudicates tender disputes, has also ordered Kenya Power to re-advertise and commence a new procurement process for the tender.

The board found that Kenya Power used an electronic procurement system that locked out Galana Oil Kenya Ltd a few minutes before the deadline for subm...