I had already picked the girl I would marry and I would say I will not become a priest, I will marry her — Father Romano

By Marion Ndung’u

The bespectacled amiable well-built man mingles freely with villagers in Nairutia, Nyeri County.

For the years he has lived in Kenya, the Italian has been assimilated to the local Kikuyu culture and apart from the colour of his skin and accent, nothing else betrays his origin.

Within minutes of meeting Father Romano Filippi, laughter is unavoidable for the charismatic Catholic father has a great sense of humour. At 71 years, Father Romano is fit and goes around his chores with ease.

Household name

Mondays are supposedly his off days, but when we visit the church, we find a number of people seated outside his office seeking to see him.

He speaks to his parishioners in the local language, Kikuyu and even says Mass in the language. And because of the ease with which he relates with his people, Father Romano is a household name among the Catholics and Protestants in Nyeri and beyond.

He first came to Kenya in 1971 and set base in Naromoru parish where he started a home for disabled children.

But soon his sights were set on other things to make his people more comfortable. He made water accessible to many families in Kieni for just Sh200 per month.

“I wanted to sink a borehole in the parish but I felt it was unfair to have water while everyone else had to go for miles to find water,” says Romano.

With only Sh3,000, he started off the 350-kilometre Mutitu water project that has become synonymous with his name. He got sponsors to help fund the project and the community contributed Sh15 million of the more than 150 million spent.

He was born in Venice Italy on December 12, 1941 and was not keen on becoming a priest until later in life. When people suggested that he would become a priest like his elder brother, he would laugh it off.

“I had already picked the girl I would marry and I would say I will not become a priest, I will marry her,” he says cheekily.

Self sufficient

He has lived in Kikuyu land for four decades. He has been in Mugunda Parish for only 12 years but in that time has turned it into a self-sufficient centre with a school, hospital, church and even a workshop besides the water company, Mutitu Water and Sanitation Company.

His policy is simple, he finds out the problems of the people he is serving and solves them together with the people. He says ten years ago he would have entertained the idea of going back home but right now he is happy to spend the rest of his life in Kenya.

But Romano is not yet a Kenyan citizen despite getting head of state commendation on December 12, 2008, which also happens to be his birthday. He last applied for the papers two years ago. Meanwhile he renews his work permit every three years.

His flock is fond of him. His office has many paintings and artistic works given by the people in appreciation of his work.

When he first came to Kenya, he was to stay for a short time. “I was asked to stay for four years but have since added a zero to make them 40,” he says.

Romano has five siblings, a brother and four sisters. The sisters are all married and have families. Every two years he visits his family in Italy.