A viral portrait that captured the nation’s emotions in the days following the passing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has now found legal protection.
The artist behind the moving piece, Collins Omondi Okello, has officially copyrighted the image to assert ownership and protect it from commercial exploitation.
The Kisumu-based digital artist, known for his intricate, lifelike portraits, revealed that the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) has granted his artwork, titled “Sunset of the Enigma”, the registration number RZ81855, officially recognizing it as his intellectual property.
When news broke of Raila Odinga’s death, the country was awash with grief.
Among the flood of tributes, one digital image stood out; a hauntingly beautiful portrait of Raila gazing into the sunset, symbolizing the end of an era.
The piece spread like wildfire, shared by thousands across X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and WhatsApp.
Within hours, it was being reproduced on T-shirts, posters, murals, and digital banners, becoming a visual shorthand for collective mourning.
But while many fans used the image to honor Raila’s memory, others saw an opportunity for profit. Vendors in Kisumu, Nairobi, and even online stores began selling merchandise featuring the artwork without the artist’s permission.
That, Okello says, is what pushed him to take the legal route.
Okello insists his intention was purely emotional, a heartfelt homage to a man who defined Kenya’s post-independence politics.
“My main aim of doing this work was as a personal tribute to a global icon who is larger than life, someone most of us couldn’t even fathom a day of his demise,” he stated on his socials. “He has shaped our political landscape and given us a soft landing in this democracy. This was not meant for commercial purposes.”