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 Journalism 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.

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.

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

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