Panic buying of maize flour by consumers is causing an artificial shortage of the commodity at various retail outlets according to Uchumi supermarkets CEO Jonathan Ciano. He says consumers are buying more than they need fearing a further hike in prices of basic food items. Consumers in a number of towns including Nakuru and Kisumu have reported that supermarkets are now limiting them to buying a 2kg packet of maize flour per shopper. Ciano maintains that Uchumi has enough maize flour stock.