Along with Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta, Ngei was one of the
"Kapenguria Six," who served prison terms in colonial days as leaders
of the Mau Mau rebellion. The six were arrested Oct. 22, 1952 on
suspicion of being the leaders of Mau Mau, whose violent revolt against
British colonial rule, though eventually defeated, helped force Britain
to give independence to Kenya. They were convicted and sentenced to 10
years in prison for managing Mau Mau, and were released in 1961.