Kenyan artist Collins Omondi Okello, the man behind the viral portrait of opposition leader Raila Odinga — popularly dubbed the Baba portrait — has taken formal steps to copyright the artwork after numerous businesses and individuals used it without his consent.
The portrait, which became a social media sensation earlier this month, was widely shared online and printed on T-shirts, posters, and even business signage. But what began as a personal artistic tribute has, according to Omondi, turned into a lesson on how quickly a creator’s work can be exploited once it goes viral.
“I have received so many concerns about the widespread use of my artwork for commercial purposes by so many businesses,” Omondi said in a statement posted on his official social media pages. “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 the creator.”
Omondi, who is based in Kisumu, said the portrait was never intended for profit. He created it to honour Raila Odinga’s long political journey and legacy.
“My main aim of doing this work was as a personal tribute to a global icon who is larger than life,” he explained. “This was not meant for commercial purposes, and even the few T-shirts I made were due to serious public demand.”
The piece, which portrays Odinga in a calm, visionary pose with bold strokes and soft tones, quickly became one of the most recognizable Kenyan artworks online in 2025. However, Omondi says he began to notice it being used by corporate brands, small traders, and event organizers — often without credit or permission.
According to Omondi, some businesses went as far as selling products branded with the image, while others used it in advertising and political messaging.
Omondi has since filed for formal copyright registration to safeguard his rights and demand accountability from those using his work. His move has sparked widespread discussion about creative ownership in Kenya, where visual artists often lose control of their content once it spreads online.
Despite the misuse, Omondi maintains a calm tone and has appealed to Kenyans to respect creative labour by acknowledging artists and avoiding unauthorized commercial exploitation.
“You can support my work by keeping the watermark on when you share the image, or acknowledging the artiste,” he wrote in his social media statement. “Or if you are generous, you can do it through M-Pesa.”
Since his announcement, online users have expressed both support and curiosity — with some questioning how copyright enforcement works in the digital age. The Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) has previously warned businesses against using viral images without permission, emphasizing that registration strengthens an artist’s legal standing but ownership already exists from the moment of creation.
