Kenyan actress Marya Okoth has officially begun a new chapter in her life after tying the knot with senior government official Jack Okula.

The couple, known for keeping their relationship intensely private, managed to conduct both their traditional and white weddings away from the public eye.

During their church ceremony, Marya looked radiant in an elegant white gown, while Okula matched her grace in coordinated attire.

Their union comes less than a year after Marya publicly parted ways with comedian YY, marking a significant and emotional new beginning for the actress.

Jack Okula’s Emotional Wedding Vows

While Kenyans admired Marya’s bridal glow, it was Okula’s deeply moving vows that captured the attention and hearts of many.

 

 Delivering a poetic, faith-centred speech, he reflected on the couple’s shared spiritual journey, referencing their baptism and re-baptism in the SDA Church.

“August 16, when you took your baptism vows, and subsequently when I got re-baptised on August 23… I could only say that this relationship has literally brought me to my knees,” Okula said.

He continued, “Despite the unimaginable challenges we have had to face, it has brought so much joy to me… a blessing only possible with such a warm personality with whom I share the deepest connection.”

Okula also drew from Shakespeare’s King John, quoting:

“He is the half part of a blessed man, left to be finished by such as she; and she a fair divided excellence, whose fullness of perfection lies in him.”

In front of their guests, he vowed to build a functional, God-centred home:

“Before this multitude of witnesses, I confess to have walked into a love so pure and true… It is my covenant to love and cherish you till death do us part, and to deliver the family we create safely to God at the end of time.”

Marya Reflects on Life in the Public Eye

In September 2024, months before the wedding, Marya opened up about navigating fame and personal transformation following her separation from YY.

Speaking to Nairobi News, she admitted that social media had dramatically reshaped her life:

“Social media has completely changed my life… I never thought it could become a source of income or a career. With fame, you have to live a certain way because people are always watching.”

She emphasised the importance of maintaining self-worth despite public scrutiny.

“You can’t control how people perceive you… I’ve learnt that both the good and the bad moments play a part in shaping who I am.”

However, she acknowledged the toll that constant visibility takes.

Read Also: Doctor Who Was Treating Betty Bayo Exposes How Acute Leukaemia Left Her Body Feeding On Itsel

“One of the biggest sacrifices I’ve made is trading my personal life for my career. There’s pressure to appear perfect, and when you make mistakes, people judge quickly.”

 YY on Healing and Moving Forward

Two months after their split, YY spoke about the breakup in a late October 2024 interview with SPM Buzz. He revealed his personal philosophy on moving on quickly after the end of a long-term relationship.

“If you give yourself more than six months after a long-term relationship ends, you will never move on… Relationships are a risk. I’m doing this for me,” he said.

He also clarified that although they were not legally married, their bond resembled a traditional marriage.
“We respected each other… It’s just the documents we didn’t have. The papers are a formality.”

YY dismissed claims that their relationship was casual.
“I don’t want people disrespecting what Marya and I had by calling it a come-we-stay marriage. It was not.”