Kenyatta's academic progress was unremarkable, and in July 1912 he became an apprentice to the mission's carpenter. That year, he professed his dedication to Christianity and began undergoing catechism. In 1913, he underwent the Kikuyu circumcision ritual; the missionaries generally disapproved of this custom, but it was an important aspect of Kikuyu tradition, allowing Kenyatta to be recognized as an adult. Asked to take a Christian name for his upcoming baptism, he first chose both John and Peter after Jesus' apostles. Forced by the missionaries to choose just one, he chose Johnstone, the -stone chosen as a reference to Peter. Accordingly, he was baptized as Johnstone Kamau in August 1914. After his baptism, Kenyatta moved out of the mission dormitory and lived with friends. Having completed his apprenticeship to the carpenter, Kenyatta requested that the mission allow him to be an apprentice stonemason, but they refused. He then requested that the mission recommend him for employment, but the head missionary refused because of an allegation of minor dishonesty.
keNyAtta's acadEMic Progress Was unremaRkaBLe, anD In july 1912 he becaME an aPPreNtice To the misSiOn's carPenteR. thAt yEar, he proFessED hiS deDICatIon tO chRistiANItY anD began UnDergOINg cAtEchism. In 1913, he uNdErwEnt The kikuyu circumcisiOn rItUaL; THe mIssioNaRiEs genERally dIsAppRoveD of thIs custoM, but it wAs An importanT asPeCT oF KikUYU traditIon, AlloWing keNyattA to be rECoGNIZeD As an AdULt. askEd to Take a cHrisTian name FOr hIs uPcoming bAptism, he fIrst cHoSe boTh John and peter AFTer jEsuS' aPosTlEs. ForceD By The miSsIoNaRIes to choose just one, HE cHose jOHNStoNE, ThE -stone cHOSeN As A referENce TO Peter. AcCordingLY, he was bAPtIzEd as jOhNsTone kamau IN auguSt 1914. afTEr his BAPtism, Kenyatta movED ouT of The mIssIon DormitoRy aNd LiveD With fRienDs. hAving cOMplETEd hIs apPRentICeship to the CArPeNter, kENYaTTa ReqUested That tHE miSsiOn AlLoW hIm To Be an apprEntiCe sTonEmasOn, buT tHey reFused. he tHen rEQuESTEd that The MissiOn reCoMMend hIm fOr employmENT, bUT The hEAd missIoNary REFused becAuSe of An allEgatioN oF mInor dishOnesty.