Collins Omondi Okello, the talented sketch artist behind the viral orange-toned Raila Odinga artwork, has voiced frustration over the widespread commercial use of his piece without permission or credit. The Kisumu-based artist, who rose to fame nearly a decade ago for another iconic Raila sketch, shared his concerns on Facebook, saying that his watermark was being cropped out and his work circulated without acknowledgment.
Why Is Collins Omondi Speaking Out About His Viral Raila Artwork?
“I have received so many concerns about the widespread use of my artwork for commercial purposes by so many businesses and thank you so much, and it is disheartening, but it is the reality of creatives, especially for art like this where someone can easily crop out watermarks or not acknowledge,” he wrote.
Collins explained that his artwork was meant as a personal tribute to Raila Odinga, whom he called “a global icon who is larger than life.” He emphasized that the creation was never intended for profit, but rather as a heartfelt expression of admiration for the late ODM leader. “My main aim of doing this work was as a personal tribute to a global icon who is larger than life, who most of us couldn’t even fathom a day of his demise, who has shaped our political landscape and given us a soft landing in this democracy,” he wrote.
Although he produced a few T-shirts of the design due to overwhelming public demand, the artist clarified that it was not a commercial project. He appealed to Kenyans to respect his creative ownership by keeping his watermark visible and crediting him whenever the image is shared. “You can support my work by keeping the watermark on when you share the image or acknowledge the artist, or if you are generous, you can do it through M-Pesa,” he added.
What Inspired Collins’ Ongoing Connection with Raila Odinga?
Speaking to Business Daily, Collins revealed that his admiration for Raila dates back years, having created five well-known portraits of the late statesman. In 2015, Raila personally invited him to Nairobi for the presentation of one of his pieces. “Meeting him was an honour,” he said. “He was charismatic. Just meeting him was payment enough, even without considering the remuneration. The publicity from that portrait gave my art and business portfolio a powerful boost.”
The artist recalled that some of his Raila portraits were purely personal tributes, while supporters for private collections commissioned others. Despite being paid well for one of the official pieces, Collins said he would have gladly done it for free. “I had to travel all the way from Kisumu, and he paid for my flights, my accommodation, and I was remunerated well for my work. But I feel this wasn’t necessary, for I had considered it a gift. Everything else that happened after was more or less like a bonus.”
Collins’ latest viral creation features Raila Odinga’s face rising mystically in the sky, with a smaller image of him below raising a fist, symbolizing farewell and legacy. The image has since spread widely across social media and commercial platforms, sparking a national conversation about respecting artists’ rights in the digital age.
By Modester Nasimiyu
