Abstract: Linkage of newly diagnosed HIV positive individuals to HIV care and treatment services is essential to initiate lifesaving antiretroviral therapy and thereby reduce HIV transmission. However, program data has shown that only 38% of newly diagnosed HIV patients in Kenya are linked to care. Case management model, a model with proven efficacy, uses case managers to provide strength based counseling that enable individuals identify their internal strengths and assets needed to facilitate linkage and enhance retention. This evaluation seeks to test the efficacy of using case managers in increasing linkage and early retention to HIV care among newly diagnosed HIV positive individuals at a referral hospital in Western Kenya within one year and including a six month follow up period by comparing linkage and retention rates among HIV infected persons who receive case managers to those who did not. A step-wedged design will be employed at 12 of the 24 hospital departments. This will be done by introducing the intervention in a phased approach by testing site. A minimum of 672 HIV infected persons will be recruited. Linkage to care will be defined as a recorded encounter at the HIV clinic’s enrolment registry. Participants will be considered retained in care after attending two or more visits over a six month period. Data on participant characteristics, linkage and retention proportions and their associated factors will be analyzed in the early and late intervention groups. Results from this evaluation will provide information on improving linkage and retention rates among HIV infected patients.