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Local residents say the death toll is higher

Pastoralists in the region clash regularly over grazing land

Nairobi, Kenya CNN  — 

Clashes between two tribes in northern Kenya left at least seven people dead this week, a local government official said Saturday.

The clashes in Moyale on Thursday were a revenge attack against one tribe over a Tuesday cattle raid, said Elias Kithaura, the official.

But local residents said the death toll is higher.

At least 20 bodies were strewn across the ground and surrounding bushes, according to Aiz Ahmed, a local resident.

Government officials deployed extra security to the remote corner of the country to quell the fighting, residents said.

Pastoralist communities in the region clash regularly over highly valuable grazing land amid devastating droughts that have affected livelihoods.