The Star reporter wins CNN Africa journalist award

The Star newspaper feature writer Fatuma Noor with her trophy after winning the CNN African Journalist Award 2011 in South Africa

The Star features writer Fatuma Noor is the winner of the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Award 2011.

Fatuma was announced winner during a gala dinner in South Africa a few hours ago. The award is now in its 16th year.

Fatuma followed the Al shabaab militia of somalia recruits  for a month before writing a story that ran in series at the Star. She dedicated her award to her mum.

Other winners from Kenya were Sylvia Chebet and Kimani Githae of Citizen TV who won in the Economics and  Business Award, Kamau Mutunga of Daily Nation won the Sport Print and Beryl Ooro of K24 TV won the HIV reporting award.

Fatuma recently won the David Astor Journalism Awards, a London-based human rights charity award that aims to promote, strengthen and support independent journalism in Africa. It does so through investing in the professional development of early-career print journalists with the greatest potential to excel in the profession.

Fatuma is currently attached at two newspapers in Britain to gain experience in investigative reporting.

She was also a runner-up in the Forum for African Investigative Reporters Awards (FAIR) after she went undercover as a sex worker in a Nairobi brothel run by Somali warlords.