Attitudes and sustainable urbanization: towards integrated planning model for Homa Bay Town, Homa Bay County, Kenya

Abstract

Whereas attention is being directed towards urban infrastructure and proper urban planning by urban planners they have invariably ignored the attitudes of residents towards sustainable urbanization and sustainability yet the economic, social, and environmental planning practices of societies embodying ‘urban sustainability’ have been proposed as antidotes for negative urban trends. The paper reports the findings of a study involving 453 respondents drawn from urban resident population of Homa Bay town, a rapidly growing urban settlement at the shoreline of Lake Victoria in Western Kenya. The study used a descriptive survey design based on mixed methods of inquiry to examine the attitudes of residents towards sustainable urbanization. The parameter of analysis was based on carefully selected 11 domains of sustainable urbanization behaviours that represent a diversity of urban issues. Linkages between Residents Attitudes towards sustainable urbanization (RASU) and Residents Knowledge towards Sustainable urbanization (RKSU) and Practises and activities that promote sustainable Urbanization (PASU) is analysed using predefined study hypotheses. The findings are used to develop a predictor model of urban sustainability. Results show that the attitude of residents is negatively egoistic. The residents are found to have high knowledge on sustainability which does not automatically translate to practises and activities that promote sustainable urbanization. The residents mean attitude towards sustainable urbanization and activities that promote it was negatively egoistic. Residents with high knowledge of understanding of the nature and characteristics of sustainable urbanization reported better sustainable urbanization activities and practices. Additionally, those with high income report a positive biospheric attitude towards sustainable urbanization. The resident’s attitude towards sustainable urbanization significantly predicted practices and activities towards sustainable urbanization. Gender and the Residents Knowledge on sustainable urbanization were found not to be significant predictors of resident’s practices and activities towards sustainable urbanization. Attitudes towards ecologically conscious consumer behaviour, ecological waste management and biodiversity protection together significantly predicted 65.6% of the variation in resident attitude towards sustainable urbanization. Integration of attitudes together with focus on this domains is recommended for better sustainability of urban areas.