Religion meets culture as Kenyan nun traditionally 'marries' church

A 51-year-old Kenyan nun has brought tradition to the Catholic church as she opts for a traditional Kikuyu marriage ceremony on Sunday to celebrate her final vows in service to the church.

Sister Rose Catherine Wambui has served the church for 25 years and said she thought it was wise to bring her village to the parish to celebrate with her and the other Christians.

“I chose to do it because it is those values I got from my culture that moulded me and they are the same values that the church has instilled in me,” she told Kenya’s NTV.

The ceremony was held after a mass at the St Francis of Assisi Gititu Catholic Church in Kenya’s Nyeri County before Kikuyu elders in full traditional regalia conducted the marriage ceremony with the presiding priest representing the church as the husband.

Sister Rose walked down the aisle in traditional clothing before the cheering congregation and guests. Dowry was paid and goat meat was shared as Kikuyu customs demanded.

The senator for Nyeri County, Mutahi Kagwe, who graced the occasion acknowledged the respect of their culture by the church.

“What we will like to see is our cultures respecting the region and the region respecting our cultures,” he said.

The Kikuyu is the largest ethnic group in Kenya comprising about 22% of the country’s population.