Artist behind viral Raila Odinga artwork laments commercial misuse of his creation
Collins Omondi Okello, popularly known as Jaduong Thinktank, the artist behind the viral Raila Odinga artwork that has been circulating widely online, has spoken out about the commercial use of his creation by various businesses without his consent.
In a statement shared on Facebook on Saturday, October 18, 2025, Collins said he was disheartened by the situation but acknowledged that such challenges are a reality for creatives, particularly for visual art that can easily be cropped, shared without watermarks, or circulated without proper attribution.
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“Good morning. 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. 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,” he said.
Collins clarified that the artwork was created purely as a personal tribute to Raila Odinga, a global icon whose influence shaped Kenya’s political landscape and whose sudden passing has left the nation in mourning.
“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 could not even fathom a day of his demise, who has shaped our political landscape and given us a soft landing in this democracy. This was not meant for commercial purposes, and even the few t-shirts I made were due to serious public demand on my social accounts,” he explained.
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The artiste urged fans and followers to support his work responsibly, either by ensuring that the watermark remains intact when sharing the image, acknowledging him as the creator, or, for those inclined, through contributions via M-Pesa.
“You can support my work by keeping the watermark on when you share the image, or acknowledging the artiste, yours truly, or if you are generous enough, you can do it through MPESA,” he said, signing off with a solemn tribute: “May Baba rest! May God bless you all!”
Collins’s statement comes as the nation continues to mourn Raila Odinga, whose passing on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in Kerala, India, at the age of 80, following a cardiac arrest, has triggered profound grief across Kenya.
Raila, who served as Prime Minister between 2008 and 2013, was widely regarded as a champion of democracy, equity, and justice.
His body was repatriated to Kenya on Thursday, October 16, and received at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where overwhelming crowds forced security teams to revise the official reception plans.
Public viewings initially planned at Parliament Buildings were later relocated to Kasarani Stadium to accommodate the thousands of mourners who flocked to pay their final respects.
Raila’s casket, draped in the national flag, was escorted under tight security, symbolising the immense public admiration that defined his life and political journey. Despite earlier logistical challenges, the state funeral at Nyayo Stadium on Friday, October 17, drew heads of state, ODM leaders, and senior government officials, including President William Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
As of today, October 18, Raila’s body has been ferried to Kisumu, where it is being viewed ahead of his burial tomorrow, Sunday, October 19, at his family homestead in Bondo, Siaya County, beside his mother, Mary Odhiambo Odinga, in accordance with his wishes.
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Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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