Italian priest quits Catholic Church to marry a Kenyan woman

A former Italian Catholic priest who previously served as a missionary in Kenya has married a Kenyan woman after leaving the priesthood and choosing to begin a family life. Father Sandro Ferretto, who served as a parish priest in Kasiela and Mochongoi in Baringo County, married Sharon Jepng'ok, daughter of former councillor John Wendot, during a traditional Koito ceremony held at Seretion Village in Kasiela, Baringo South. Ferretto reportedly met Sharon while carrying out missionary work in the Baringo region. Their relationship later developed to the point that he left the priesthood to pursue a life with her and the prospect of raising a family. The marriage was formalised through the Koito ceremony, a significant Kalenjin traditional rite involving formal dowry negotiations, the participation of both families and the seeking of family blessings before a union is recognised. Relatives, community members, local leaders and Sharon's colleagues attended the ceremony to witness the couple's union. Ferretto was said to have fully participated in the Tugen customs associated with the ceremony, embracing traditions markedly different from the religious life he had previously lived as a Catholic missionary. The event also represented a blend of Italian and Tugen cultures, with the former priest taking part in the rites of the community where he had previously served in a pastoral capacity. His marriage has drawn particular attention because of his long association with the Baringo community and the unusual transition from Catholic priesthood, which ordinarily requires celibacy for priests in the Latin Church, to marriage and family life. The ceremony also underscored the extent to which Ferretto had become integrated into the local community during and after his missionary service. News of the marriage generated widespread reactions on Kenyan social media, with users expressing surprise, amusement and fascination over the former priest's decision. Some commenters jokingly contrasted his former religious life with his new cultural setting, saying he had exchanged altar wine for Mursik, the traditional fermented milk widely associated with Kalenjin communities.