Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Father Sandro Ferretto, an Italian-born Catholic priest who spent 12 years serving communities in Baringo County, Kenya, has left the priesthood to marry Sharon Jepng'ok, a Tugen woman from Baringo South, in a traditional Koito ceremony that has captured international attention and sparked debate about clerical celibacy. The wedding took place on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Seretion Village in Kasiela, where Ferretto once served as parish priest, bringing together relatives, community elders, local leaders, and Sharon's colleagues to witness the union. The couple's decision has drawn widespread fascination because of Ferretto's long association with Kenyan communities and the rarity of a Catholic priest leaving active ministry to marry.
Ferretto, 55, was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Padua, Italy, and began missionary work in Kenya in 2008, serving in the Kasiela and Mochongoi areas under the Diocese of Nyahururu. During his time in Baringo, he became known for pastoral work, youth programmes, and community development projects. In December 2020, he returned to Italy with fellow missionary Fr Mariano Dal Ponte, and by 2023, he was leading a pastoral unit in Saletto, Borgo Veneto, overseeing eight churches. In December 2023, local media reported he had stepped down from that role for a period of reflection before later returning to Kenya.
Sharon Jepng'ok is from Baringo South and met Ferretto during his missionary service. The couple held a Koito ceremony, the Kalenjin customary rite for dowry negotiation and family blessing, marking a complete transition from Ferretto's former clerical life to matrimony. Ferretto embraced the Tugen customs throughout the ceremony, taking part in the traditional proceedings in what was described as a warm and inclusive celebration. The wedding represented a rare blend of Italian and Tugen cultures, with the former priest participating in customs far removed from the religious life he had known while serving in the Catholic Church.
Under Catholic Church law, priests of the Latin Rite make a commitment to celibacy and are not permitted to marry while remaining in active ministry. A priest who wishes to marry must first be released from the obligations of the clerical state through a formal process approved by the Vatican, known as laicization, which removes a priest from the clerical state and usually includes a dispensation from the promise of celibacy. Once such permissions are granted, the individual is no longer regarded as an active priest and is free to enter into marriage.
The union has attracted significant attention in Kenya and Italy because of Ferretto's long association with communities in Baringo. For many residents, he was known simply as "Father Sandro," having spent more than a decade working among local families, youth groups, and church congregations. Videos and photos from the celebration have gained attention on social media, with Ferretto, dressed in a dark-blue suit, seen dancing with his bride as guests watched. Some commenters joked that Ferretto had chosen Mursik, the traditional Kalenjin fermented milk, over the sacramental altar wine associated with his former life as a priest.
The news of his wedding has triggered lively, lighthearted reactions across Kenyan social media platforms. Thousands of citizens reacted with a mix of humour and admiration, with local residents affectionately noting that the former cleric has simply transitioned from one definition of "Father" to another. While a shift of this magnitude occasionally raises traditional theological eyebrows, the primary wave of responses from the local community has been highly supportive. Many have lauded him for his honesty, with online commentators noting that choosing a path of authentic love over rigid duty is a beautiful thing.
The wedding has nevertheless placed Ferretto and Sharon in the public eye, with many people fascinated by the union of Italian and Tugen traditions. As they begin their new life together in Baringo South, their story serves as a powerful reminder that love sometimes demands the most difficult choices, even for those who have dedicated their lives to the service of God.
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