Father Guyo Waqo has been sentenced to death for ordering the killing of the Bishop of Isiolo, Luigi Locati.
77-year-old Bishop Locati was shot dead in July 2005 after he started an investigation into Fr Waqo's financial affairs.
A court in Nairobi heard how the priest recruited four Muslim men, Mohammed Molu Bagajo, Aden Ibrahim Mohamed, Mahati Ali Halake, and Roba Balla Bariche, to carry out the killing.
It was said Fr. Waqo wanted control of the diocese after the bishop retired but the pair had been locked in a power struggle.
Bishop Locati was originally from the northern Italian province of Vercelli but moved to Kenya in 1962 to create the Isiolo Diocese.
After a trial lasting eight years Judge Fred Ochieng said the five men were "directly involved in the planning and killing of the bishop".
He sentenced them to death although it's unlikely that will happen as Kenya has not executed a prisoner since 1987.
A sixth man, Diga Wario, was cleared of the murder.