President William Ruto arrived in Lusaka, Zambia, on Thursday morning to attend the 22nd Summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Heads of State and Government.

Ruto was met at the airport by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and other senior government officials. He was also greeted by a traditional welcoming ceremony, which included traditional dancers and drummers.

The summit, which is being held under the theme "Economic Integration for a Thriving COMESA, Anchored on Green Investment, Value Addition, and Tourism," will focus on ways to boost economic growth and development in the COMESA region.

Heads of state and government will also discuss the state of integration in the region, as well as peace and security.

Ruto is expected to deliver a keynote address at the summit, in which he is likely to highlight Kenya's commitment to regional integration and cooperation.

He is also expected to meet with other heads of state and government to discuss bilateral issues of mutual interest.

The summit is being held at a time when the COMESA region is facing a number of challenges, including economic instability, political instability, and security threats.

The summit is an opportunity for heads of state and government to come together and discuss ways to address these challenges and to build a stronger and more prosperous COMESA region.

In addition to Ruto, other heads of state and government expected to attend the summit include Hichilema, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

The summit is expected to conclude on Friday.