Kenyan journalist Joseph Mathenge wins 2014 CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Award

By CNN Staff

October 20, 2014 -- Updated 1600 GMT (0000 HKT)

Kenyan journalist and this year's overall CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards winner, Joseph Mathenge was on scene at the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi during the terror attacks of September 2013.

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"Images of Terror" by Joseph Mathenge

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• "Images of Terror" from Kenyan journalist Mathenge wins award
• The winning photographs were originally published in Kenyan newspaper The Standard
• The awards were presented in Dar el Salaam, Tanzania, on October 18

(CNN) -- A photo series capturing the moments of terror faced by Westgate shoppers has won a Kenyan journalist the top honors at this year's CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards.

Held in Tanzania on Saturday, Joseph Mathenge scooped the top prize for his work "Images of Terror," which first appeared in Kenyan daily newspaper The Standard.

Mathenge's photographs revealed the horrific attack from inside Nairobi's upscale shopping mall in September 2013.

Mathenge said: "It's a great honor, and I'm humbled to receive this award. All finalists who are here deserve this award. I hope it will motivate men, women and children of good will all over the world to fight terrorism. Memories fade with time, but pictures don't. We felt it necessary to capture each and every moment so that generations to come may see the horror."

Chairperson of the judging panel, Ferial Haffajee, said: "Joseph Mathenge's photographs so eloquently captured one of Africa's toughest 21st Century moments that they were worth a thousand words. That said, the quality of all the winners' works made the contest a tightly run one."

AJA 2014: African Journalist of the Year

AJA 2014: Photography Award

The overall award carried a substantial cash prize, in addition to a three-week CNN Journalism Fellowship at CNN Center in Atlanta. All finalists received a cash prize and iPad Air, with runners-up also receiving an iPad mini.

Mathenge was among a group of 28 finalists from 10 nations who attended the ceremony in Tanzania following a four-day programme of workshops, media forums, networking and sightseeing.

Deborah Rayner, senior vice president of international newsgathering TV and Digital, CNN International, said the awards showcase excellence in journalism in Africa.

"By entering these awards, they have proved they have the determination, professionalism and courage to showcase Africa's stories to the world."

Rayner presented the top accolade to Mathenge alongside Jakaya Kikwete, President of Tanzania and Nico Meyer, CEO MultiChoice Africa.

Meyer said: "We are proud to recognize your excellence in journalism and to reward you for your courage in telling stories that would have otherwise remained untold."

Imtiaz Patel, Group CEO of MultiChoice South Africa, praised the finalists' role in advancing journalism in Africa. "Your work echoes a great future for the role of the journalists and serves to further strengthen the role of the media in Africa."

Now in it's 19th year, the Awards were established in 1995 to encourage, promote and recognize excellence in African journalism.