A former Italian Catholic priest has taken a dramatic new step in his life after leaving active priestly ministry and marrying a Kenyan woman in a colourful traditional ceremony in Baringo County.
Father Sandro Ferretto, an Italian-born missionary who spent years serving Catholic communities in Kenya, married Sharon Jepng’ok, a Tugen woman from Baringo South, during a traditional Koito ceremony held at Seretion Village in Kasiela on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
The wedding has attracted widespread attention in Kenya, particularly because Ferretto was once a Catholic parish priest in Kasiela and Mochongoi, the same region where he eventually met his bride.
Father Sandro Ferretto’s journey from priesthood to marriage
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Ferretto was ordained as a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Padua in Italy before beginning missionary work in Kenya in 2008.
He served communities in Baringo under the Diocese of Nyahururu, where he became known for his pastoral activities, youth programmes and community development work.
His missionary assignment lasted for years and created a strong connection between him and the local community.
According to reports, Ferretto first met Sharon during his missionary work in the region. Their relationship eventually developed beyond friendship, and he later made the decision to leave active priestly ministry and pursue a family life.
The decision marked a major change from the life he had previously known as a Catholic missionary.
He returns to Baringo as a groom
Ferretto eventually returned to Kenya after spending time back in Italy.
His return to Baringo was particularly significant because he was no longer arriving as a priest serving the local Catholic community.
Instead, he returned as Sharon’s partner and later became her husband.
The couple celebrated their union through a Koito ceremony at Seretion Village in Kasiela, an area where Ferretto had previously served as a parish priest.
Family members, friends, community leaders and other guests attended the colourful celebration.
A colourful Tugen traditional wedding
The Koito ceremony is an important traditional marriage process among Kalenjin communities and involves family participation, dowry negotiations and blessings.
Ferretto reportedly embraced the traditional proceedings as he joined Sharon’s family and community for the celebration.
Photos and videos from the ceremony have circulated widely online, showing the former priest participating in the colourful cultural celebrations.
The wedding has particularly fascinated social media users because of the unusual journey that brought the couple together.
For many people familiar with Ferretto’s earlier work in Baringo, seeing the former priest return to the community as a groom has added an emotional dimension to the celebration.
From missionary work to a new family life
Ferretto’s years in Kenya were marked by his involvement in local communities.
A 2019 publication from the Diocese of Padua documented the conclusion of his missionary service in Kenya and his deep affection for the people of Mochongoi. In a farewell message, Ferretto described his experience of living among Kenyan communities as an opportunity that had profoundly influenced him.
His decision to eventually leave active priestly ministry therefore represents another major chapter in a journey that has already taken him between Italy and Kenya.
Rather than continuing his life as a Catholic priest, he has chosen to pursue marriage and family life with Sharon.
What Catholic law says about priests and marriage
The story has also generated discussion about Catholic rules concerning marriage and the priesthood.
In the Latin Catholic Church, clerics are generally bound by the obligation of celibacy. Canon law also states that men who are in sacred orders cannot validly attempt marriage while remaining in that state.
A priest who wishes to leave the clerical state and marry must therefore go through the appropriate Church procedures.
Ferretto is now described in reports as a former priest rather than an active Catholic priest, reflecting his departure from active ministry before entering this new phase of his life.
Sharon Jepng’ok and her family background
Sharon Jepng’ok is a Tugen woman from Baringo South.
Reports identify her as the daughter of former councillor John Wendot. Her connection to the region made the ceremony particularly significant within the local community.
Her marriage to Ferretto also represents a striking meeting of two cultures, bringing together his Italian background and her Tugen heritage.
The traditional ceremony reflected that cultural blend, with the former missionary embracing the customs of the community where he had spent many years.
Social media reacts to the unusual love story
The wedding has generated considerable interest online, with Kenyans sharing photographs and videos from the ceremony.
Many reactions have focused on Ferretto’s remarkable transition from Catholic missionary to traditional groom.
Others have praised the couple for embracing local culture and celebrating their marriage with family and community members.
Some social media users have also reacted humorously to Ferretto’s participation in Tugen traditions, particularly his experience with traditional Kalenjin customs and food.
Beyond the jokes and online fascination, however, the wedding represents a deeply personal decision for two people who chose to build a life together.
A remarkable new chapter
Father Sandro Ferretto’s story is ultimately one of an unexpected life transition.
After years spent serving Catholic communities in Kenya, he has now begun a completely different chapter as a married man.
His relationship with Sharon brought him back to Baringo, the region where his Kenyan missionary journey had once begun.
Their colourful Koito ceremony at Seretion Village has therefore become more than a wedding celebration. It marks the beginning of a new family journey and a remarkable transformation in Ferretto’s personal life.
As photographs and videos from the ceremony continue to circulate, the former priest and his Kenyan bride have become the centre of an unusual cross-cultural love story that has captured attention across Kenya and beyond.
TheCable report on Father Sandro Ferretto’s marriage
Former Catholic priest Father Sandro, also known as Sandro Ferretto, has left the priesthood and married his partner, Sharon Jepngok, a Tugen woman from Baringo South.
The Italian born former cleric previously served as a parish priest in the Kasiela and Mochongoi region of… pic.twitter.com/EU7tI5a6Cy
— Ⓝⓖ’ⓞⓡⓞⓡⓘⓔⓣ (@baroswahjr) September 7, 2026
