Former Miss Lang’ata pageant winner Elizabeth Matayan has broken her silence on the controversial incident that left Lindsay Soila permanently blind in her left eye, offering her account of what happened and reflecting on her time behind bars.
In an exclusive interview with Kenyan journalist and content creator Samwel Sangida, Matayan addressed the incident, insisting that she did not physically fight Lindsay but instead admitted to smashing the windscreen of her boyfriend’s car.
“Sikupigana. Kitu nilifanya ni kupasua glass ya gari ya boyfriend, and then glass ikaingia macho ya msichana, and that's how things never went right for her,” she said.
Her remarks come amid renewed public attention following her release from prison on probation in 2026 and her participation in the Miss Lang’ata prison beauty pageant, which brought her back into the public spotlight.
Elizabeth Matayan Explains What Happened During Lindsay Soila Incident
During the interview, Matayan gave her version of the events that resulted in Lindsay suffering a serious eye injury.
According to her, she did not engage in a physical confrontation with Lindsay but broke the glass of her boyfriend’s vehicle, which allegedly ended up injuring the young woman.
She acknowledged that the incident had far-reaching consequences for Lindsay, saying that things never went right for her after the incident.
Matayan, however, admitted that there was still a lengthy conversation that needed to happen with the people involved.
“It's a long story. I have to talk to them, everybody considering now I'm out,” she added.
Her comments come as Lindsay continues to seek accountability over the injury that permanently affected her sight.
The two women have presented different accounts of how the injury happened. While Matayan attributes it to shattered vehicle glass, Lindsay has maintained that Elizabeth struck her eye with a stone.
The civil matter concerning the injury and compensation remains an important part of the ongoing dispute.
Matayan Reflects on Life Behind Bars
Beyond addressing the incident, Matayan also opened up about her experience in prison, describing it as a difficult period that came with lessons about people and relationships.
She revealed that not everyone who visited her while she was incarcerated had genuine intentions, claiming that some people only wanted to confirm that she was behind bars before disappearing from her life.
“It wasn't easy, si kila mtu alikuja uko alikuwa na good intention,” she explained.
Matayan further claimed that some people made promises they never fulfilled, while others visited her only to establish that she was indeed in prison.
“Wengine walikuja ku confirm niko ndani waka disappear, wengine wakakuja na fake promises,” she said.
Despite the disappointments, she expressed gratitude to everyone who stood by her during the difficult period.
“But I thank everyone,” she added.
Lindsay Soila's Fight for Accountability Continues
Matayan's return to the public eye has reignited conversations about the incident, particularly after her Miss Lang’ata pageant appearance and subsequent release on probation.
For Lindsay, however, the consequences of the September 2023 incident remain part of her everyday life.
Having permanently lost sight in her left eye, she has questioned whether Matayan's release and public rehabilitation efforts adequately address the harm she suffered.
