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.
