Nairobi — More than 80 per cent of the country will be hit by drought before December, the Meteorological Department has warned.

Measures should be put in place to shield Kenyans from the challenges that lie ahead, Dr Joseph Mukabana, the director of the department, said on Thursday.

"We want to see water conservation improved by local authorities. More also needs to be done in the energy sector to cushion against any power shortage in the country," Dr Mukabana said.

He asked farmers to liaise with officials Ministry of Agriculture officials for advice on drought-resistant crops they can grow, including cassava.

"We are going to have normal rains in some areas, with a tendency to receive below normal rains in others. Farmers in areas with normal rains should, therefore, maximise their production in order to support others in coming months," the director said.

He said that La Nina (weather phenomena) had started in July and was expected to go on until December.

Dr Mukabana announced that the department was deploying professional weather experts in districts so that they can give correct information to people they would be serving.

"Previously, we were relying on provincial administrators, which made the information reaching the public distorted. That will soon be no more."

Several radio stations, the Met boss disclosed, had been set up in areas that were always hit by disasters to give timely information to residents.

"The radio stations run by the department in Budalang'i, Nyakach, Suswa, Kangema, Machakos and Kwale will give information on weather, climate, agriculture, water resources management, public health and environmental degradation to communities," he said.