Collins Omondi Okello, the talented digital artist behind the viral orange-themed portrait of the late Raila Odinga, has expressed disappointment over the widespread unauthorised commercial use of his artwork.
Omondi, who first gained fame nearly a decade ago for his hyper-realistic sketches of Kenyan leaders, said his recent tribute to the late opposition chief was meant to honour Raila’s legacy, not to generate profit.
Omondi: “People Are Removing My Watermark”
In a heartfelt post shared on Facebook, the Kisumu-born artist lamented that his viral image was being used by several businesses for commercial purposes without his consent.
“I have received so many concerns about the widespread use of my artwork for commercial purposes by many businesses. It’s disheartening, but it’s the reality of creatives, especially for art like this where someone can easily crop out watermarks or not acknowledge,” he wrote.
Collins revealed that his original goal was to pay tribute to Raila Odinga, describing him as a global icon who shaped Kenya’s democracy and inspired a generation.
“My main aim of doing this work was as a personal tribute to a global icon who is larger than life. This was not meant for commercial purposes, and even the few T-shirts I made were due to public demand,” he added.
Appeal for Recognition and Support
The artist appealed to Kenyans to help preserve the integrity of his work by retaining his watermark and acknowledging his authorship whenever sharing or printing the artwork.
He also invited supporters to show appreciation by sending financial support via M-Pesa, adding that artists deserve fair recognition and reward for their creative efforts.
“You can support my work by keeping the watermark when you share the image, acknowledge the artist, or if you’re generous, you can do it through M-Pesa,” he concluded.
A Viral Tribute to a National Icon
Omondi’s artwork — a striking orange-hued portrait of Raila Odinga — went viral across social media platforms following Odinga’s death earlier this week, becoming one of the most shared visual tributes to the opposition leader.
The image has since been reproduced on posters, billboards, T-shirts, and merchandise by fans and businesses alike, often without crediting the creator.
The incident highlights the wider challenge facing Kenyan digital artists, who continue to struggle with issues of intellectual property rights and fair compensation in the era of viral content.
