The Neglected 3rd Pillar of Sustainable Urbanization: Exploring Social Sustainability of Homa Bay Town, Kenya

Abstract

Though the concept of sustainable development originally included a clear social mandate, for two decades this human dimension has been neglected amidst abbreviated references to sustainability that have focused on bio-physical environmental issues, or been subsumed within a discourse that conflated ‘development' and ‘economic growth'. However social sustainability is increasingly finding prominence as an important theme of sustainable urbanization. Its relevance to sustainable urbanization of emerging urban areas in developing nations with financial constraints is particularly important. The promulgation of 2010 constitution in Kenya created devolved units called counties. These counties have their administrative headquarters located in rapidly urbanising towns which are steadily growing and expanding at unprecedented rate as centres of commerce, education, religion, culture, socialization and administrative hubs. Scientifically gathered information on social sustainability of these towns remain scanty, fragmented and anecdotal. These paper reports findings of a study that involved 453 residents and used a descriptive survey design based on mixed methods of inquiry to examine the social sustainability of Homa Bay town based on selected social sustainability indicators. The findings show disparities in key social sustainability indicators and reports potential risks if proper urban planning is not undertaken. The study recommends greater public participation in urban governance and proposesan integrated planning.